Oral Submucous Fibrosis- A primer

Find everything you need to know about Oral Submucous fibrosis in this recorded lecture by Dr K. Rangnathan

In this video, Dr Ranganthan, a world-renowned expert on the topic, delves into the world of Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSF), an oral potentially malignant disorder with a malignant transformation rate of 1.3 – 23%. The primary cause of OSF is the consumption of areca nut, the fourth most commonly consumed substance globally, after tobacco, alcohol, and caffeine. Shockingly, around 10%‐20% of the world’s population consumes areca nut in various forms, with an estimated 600 million chewers worldwide. In India alone, 223.79 million people consume areca nut. OSF is a debilitating condition characterized by fibrosis and atrophy of the epithelium, and its morbidity is unique, varying regionally depending on the type of areca nut consumed. In addition, the atrophic changes make diagnosing dysplasia challenging and prognosticating malignant transformation a hurdle. In this presentation, we will explore OSF’s clinical, histological, and molecular aspects. We hope to shed light on this unique condition and help raise awareness of its severity.