Otolaryngology: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Objectives: Areca nut is the fourth most commonly used psychoactive substance, apart from being carcinogenic has diverse effects on almost all organs of the human body including the brain, heart, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and reproductive organs. Oral submucous fibrosis is one of the most poorly understood and unsatisfactorily treated diseases. It often presents with vesicle formation, burning sensation, intolerance to hot and spicy food, and trismus, however the current paper flags novelty by portraying few rare clinical presentations of advanced stage of OSMF. Materials & Method: 3 cases of advanced stages of OSMF were reviewed and their clinical characteristics were collected and analyzed. Results: The paper highlights the synchronization of OSMF with oral cancer manifesting with perineural invasion, mandibular widening and widespread systemic effects of Areca nut causing generalized facial, cerebral atrophy and deafness. Conclusion: There is a dire need for establishment of a preventive and intervention programme for the malicious habit that attracts young individuals with its euphoric and stress buster action. Further the individual mechanism of this intriguing condition manifesting at various stages of the disease-initial, intermediate advanced stages needs to be further explored.

Biography

Email: sameep.shetty@manipal.edu