The clinicohistopathologic study of oral submucous fibrosis: A new staging system with treatment strategies

Abstract

Introduction: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), a precancerous condition, is highly prevalent in the Indian subcontinent. The current classification systems focus on either clinical and/or histopathologic features; hence, a need has arisen to formulate a staging system with emphasis on treatment strategies. Aims and Objectives: The objective of the study was to devise the staging system which is suggestive of treatment strategies based on the clinical and histopathological staging. Study Design: The study sample consisted of 100 OSMF patients categorized into clinical stages of Andrade and Khanna′s staging system and histological grading of Andrade and Khanna′s grading system. Thereafter, clinical features were reevaluated for modifying the Andrade and Khanna′s staging system. Results: Based on the findings of the current study, certain clinical features were modified among all the stages of Andrade and Khanna′s classification system for OSMF. Conclusion: The present study has devised a new staging system for OSMF with objective clinical and histopathological criteria which provide guidance for treatment plan.

Keywords

• Classification
• oral submucous fibrosis
• precancerous condition