Relationship between habits and precancerous lesions of the oral cavity – a clinicopathological study

Introduction: Oral cancers account for 3% of total malignancies. A research was conducted to findthe incidence, age, and sex distribution, clinical presentation, and the relationship between habitsand various premalignant lesions of the oral cavity. Methods: It was a hospital-based observationaland cross-sectional study, conducted in GSL Medical College, Rajamahendravaram from October2015 to April 2017. Individuals aged > 18 years, with leukoplakia, erythroplakia, blanched mucosawith or without fibrous bands and /or trismus suggestive of oral submucous fibrosis, bilateral whitishlesions with a reticular pattern suggestive of lichen planus, and ulcer against sharp tooth denturesuggestive of traumatic dental ulcers were taken. Individuals with frank oral malignancy, those withterminal diseases, those who did not submit informed consent were not considered. Results: Themajority of patients (33.33%) were aged between 51 – 60 years, belong (62.75%) to lowersocioeconomic status. Leukoplakia (64.7%) was a common clinical presentation. Most (49.02%) ofthe study patients presented with a burning sensation. When addictions were considered, 86.27% ofpatients were smokers, 23.53% were addicted to alcohol. Conclusion: Leukoplakia was thecommonest (64.71%) premalignant lesion, 51 – 60 years was the common age group. Premalignantlesions were most commonly seen among males, most of the study participants belong to low andmiddle socio-economic groups with a rural background. Diabetes mellitus was the most commoncomorbidity associated with premalignant lesions.