Potentially malignant disorders of the oral cavity: a clinical study.

[oral submucous fibrosis]

Oral cancers in India , unlike in the West are the most common cancers encountered , be it a primary or a tertiary referral practice . This makes the study and management of these cancers an important issue especially for the otolaryngologist . It is well known that the most common variant of oral cancers is the squamous cell carcinoma . Also the etiology is well established ; with tobacco use in both smoking and smokeless forms , alcohol , betel nut and recently the Human Papilloma virus infection being implicated . Certain conditions which definitely increase the probability of getting oral cancers are known and this study aims in revisiting these aspects of pre-malignancy . The progression from a pre-cancerous lesion /condition to frank cancer is well established across many studies and many specialties . Also timely recognizing these pre-cancerous conditions and administration of proper treatment will greatly help in reducing the morbidity and mortality from subsequent much advanced and dangerous oral cancer . Keeping these facts in mind this study was planned to study the established pre-cancerous lesions which are known to progress to oral cancers .