Biomaterial Database

Prevalence of oral mucosal lesions among tobacco users. 2012

Poornima Chandra, and Poornima Govindraju

Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Rajarajeswari Dental Collge and Hospital, Bangalore, India. drpoornichandra@yahoo.com

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions associated with tobacco among patients visiting the dental hospital. METHODS A selection of 1525 patients visiting the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology were interviewed regarding tobacco habits. Examination of the oral cavity was performed by trained examiners under good illumination using diagnostic instruments. Oral mucosal lesions were diagnosed based on the clinical features. RESULTS The patients were divided into groups based on their tobacco habits. Out of 1525 patients, 359 patients (23.5%) had the habit and 265 (73.8%) of them had oral mucosal lesions. Leukoedema was the most prevalent lesion. Leukoplakia was found in 3.5% of the patients. Malignancy was found only among chewers. CONCLUSIONS Nearly three-quarters of the patients with the tobacco habit had oral mucosal lesions. This emphasises that routine examination of oral mucosa is important and that the patients must be motivated to quit this harmful habit.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007194	India	A country in southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan. The capitol is New Delhi.	Republic of India
D007967	Leukoedema, Oral	A disorder of the buccal mucosa resembling early leukoplakia, characterized by the presence of filmy opalescence of the mucosa in the early stages to a whitish gray cast with a coarsely wrinkled surface in the later stages, associated with intracellular edema of the spinous or malpighian layer. (Dorland, 27th ed)	Leukoedemas, Oral,Oral Leukoedema,Oral Leukoedemas
D007972	Leukoplakia, Oral	A white patch seen on the oral mucosa. It is considered a premalignant condition and is often tobacco-induced. When evidence of Epstein-Barr virus is present, the condition is called hairy leukoplakia (LEUKOPLAKIA, HAIRY).	Keratosis, Oral,Leukokeratosis, Oral,Keratoses, Oral,Leukokeratoses, Oral,Leukoplakias, Oral,Oral Keratoses,Oral Keratosis,Oral Leukokeratoses,Oral Leukokeratosis,Oral Leukoplakia,Oral Leukoplakias
D008297	Male		Males
D008548	Melanosis	Disorders of increased melanin pigmentation that develop without preceding inflammatory disease.	Chloasma,Freckles,Melanism,Melasma,Chloasmas,Freckle,Melanoses,Melasmas
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009059	Mouth Diseases	Diseases involving the MOUTH.	Disease, Mouth,Diseases, Mouth,Mouth Disease
D009061	Mouth Mucosa	Lining of the ORAL CAVITY, including mucosa on the GUMS; the PALATE; the LIP; the CHEEK; floor of the mouth; and other structures. The mucosa is generally a nonkeratinized stratified squamous EPITHELIUM covering muscle, bone, or glands but can show varying degree of keratinization at specific locations.	Buccal Mucosa,Oral Mucosa,Mucosa, Mouth,Mucosa, Oral
D009062	Mouth Neoplasms	Tumors or cancer of the MOUTH.	Cancer of Mouth,Mouth Cancer,Oral Cancer,Oral Neoplasms,Cancer of the Mouth,Neoplasms, Mouth,Neoplasms, Oral,Cancer, Mouth,Cancer, Oral,Cancers, Mouth,Cancers, Oral,Mouth Cancers,Mouth Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Mouth,Neoplasm, Oral,Oral Cancers,Oral Neoplasm
D009914	Oral Submucous Fibrosis	Irreversible FIBROSIS of the submucosal tissue of the MOUTH.	Fibroses, Oral Submucous,Fibrosis, Oral Submucous,Oral Submucous Fibroses,Submucous Fibroses, Oral,Submucous Fibrosis, Oral