Frequency of premalignant lesions of oral cavity in Lyari Town, Karachi.

Abstract

Introduction: Usage of tobacco in any form and its related products is the chief avoidable reason of death around the globe based on reports published by WHO. Currently, approximately 6 million fatalities occur each year and majority of these deaths, almost 4 out of every 5 fatalities occur in less developed countries around the world.
 Objective: To find out the frequency of premalignant lesion in oral cavity in persons consuming betel nuts and tobacco in Lyari town Karachi, Pakistan.
 Methodology: After Institutional ethical committee approval, this cross-sectional survey was carried out in the routine camps at Bihar colony Lyari town under supervision of ENT and Oral Pathology Departments Sindh Government Lyari Hospital Karachi. Patients fulfilling inclusion criteria and given written informed consent were selected for the study.
 Results: The demographic profile of study participants and it was seen that 15 (5.3%) of them were aged 20 to 30 years, 200 (70.4%) of them were males, 92(32.4%) of them had primary education, 109(38.4)of them were laborers 89(31.3%) of them were Sindhi. The overall frequency of premalignant lesions of oral cavity was found in 28 (9.86%) in study participants. Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) was seen in 11 (39.3%) of the individuals, 8(28.6%) were having Lichen planus, 5(17.9%) were having leukoplakia, and 4(14.2%) were having erythroplakia.
 Conclusion: Despite the fact that the study found a higher frequency of OPML than earlier studies in this demographic, the proportion of those who used tobacco in any form was significantly higher.
 Keywords: Oral premalignant lesions, screening, risk factors, tobacco use, Betel Quid