A Longitudinal Study on Oral Potentially Malignant and Malignant Lesions in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to qualitatively and quantitatively over five years using a clinical spectrum of
presentation and frequency distribution, prevalence, and malignant transformation rates of Potentially malignant
disorders.
Methods: This study follows a longitudinal prospective study design which was conducted in the Department
of Oral Medicine, Oral Diagnosis and Radiology, at SCB Dental College and Hospital, Cuttack over 5 years, from
January 2013 to December 2017.
Results: The frequency of OPMDs was 55% with 36.88% males. The most and least frequently encountered OPMDs
included Pouch keratosis (30.96% of OPMDs) and Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (0.002% of OPMDs). The mean
age of malignant transformation was 41 years with a male predilection (68%) and was largely habit associated
(72%). Over the 5 years, the highest rate of malignant transformation was observed for actinic cheilitis (20.66%)
and the least for oral lichen planus (0.35%).
Conclusion: The significantly higher rate of transformation noted in our population can be attributed to late
presentation for treatment, rampant production and continued use of smokeless forms of tobacco. To the best of
our knowledge, this study is one of the few to recruit a large population presenting with varied lesions.