Evaluation of OSMF with Ultrasonography

Aims: To measure the submucosal thickness in Oral Submucous Fibrosis patients and in normal healthy individuals and to evaluate the changes in the vascularity by using color Doppler in different stages of Oral submucous fibrosis and in normal healthy individuals. Materials and Method: The study group included a total of 50 male subjects out of these 40 OSMF were clinically diagnosed as having OSMF and they are further subdivided into 4 subgroups on the basis of clinical grading (according to Khanna and Andrade)each having 10 patients. While 10 apparently healthy subjects were included as controls. Submucosal thickness of labial and buccal mucosa was measured ultrasonographically for both the groups. Statistical analysis was done using mean ±SD, one way ANOVA test to compare the variable data. Results: When the cases were compared with the controls there was significant increase seen in all the measured sites in cases. The increase in the thickness was found to be increase with the severity of the disease. Conclusion: Significant positive relation was observed in interincisal opening with the duration of habit. However no correlation was observed with respect to frequency of habit and interincisal opening. There was increase in submucosal thickness as the severity of disease increased. There was decrease in vascularity in OSMF as compare to controls. Partial or complete absence of vascularity was seen in Grade III and Grade IV OSMF. A slight thickening of submucosa and decrease in vascularity may be considered as early changes seen in OSMF.