Proposed clinical definition for oral submucous fibrosis

Publication date: Available online 2 July 2019Source: Journal of Oral Biology and Craniofacial ResearchAuthor(s): Chandramani B. More, Naman R. RaoAbstractOral Submucous Fibrosis (OSMF) is an insidious, chronic, complex, crippling, debilitating, irreversible, progressive, scarring, potentially malignant and collagen metabolic disorder, induced by a known carcinogen areca nut; wherein the oral mucosa, and occasionally the pharynx and oesophagus is subjected to various pathological changes with significant clinical manifestations at different stages of progression, leading to functional morbidity; and with a risk of malignant transformation in the overlying epithelium. The researchers around the world have suggested various terminologies, but majority of them are based on histopathological features. Although the condition is mainly diagnosed clinically, based on classic clinical manifestations, the commonly used existing definition for oral submucous fibrosis is primarily based on histological features. The authors have conducted extensive clinical research studies on OSMF and the expertise of all the authors in the subject, intends to propose a new clinical definition as ‘a debilitating, progressive, irreversible collagen metabolic disorder induced by chronic chewing of areca nut and its commercial preparations; affecting the oral mucosa and occasionally the pharynx and esophagus; leading to mucosal stiffness and functional morbidity; and has a potential risk of malignant tr...

Source: Journal of Oral Biology and Craniofacial Research - July 2, 2019 Category: Dentistry Source Type: research