Soft palate morphology in OSMF patients: Radiographic evaluation

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a chronic progressive, scarring disorder of oral cavity, which includes buccal mucosa, tongue, lips, anterior faucial pillars, soft palate, and oropharynx. Changes in soft palate morphology will start even before the OSMF, present itself clinically. These changes can lead to sleep apnea, difficulty in speech, swallowing & respiration. Various radiographs are good diagnostic aid to assess the soft palate and its morphology or any changes in morphology. To evaluate and compare soft palate morphology and dimensions in various stages of OSMF with control by radiographic evaluation.: 60 patients were evaluated and compared for soft palate morphology, its length, width and angle by using lateral cephalogram and Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Most common type of soft palate was found to be type 1 (leaf shaped) in both groups as well as by both radiographic techniques. Significant decrease in length and increase in width with increasing grades of OSMF group. As per p value CBCT gave more precise result. As the OSMF progresses soft palate becomes stout and bulky and significant changes occur in soft palate dimensions and are better evaluated by CBCT. As involvement of the soft palate is the earliest change to be noticed, radiographs should be used as one of the diagnostic aids in OSMF patients.