“Clinical and epidemiologic study of potentially malignant lesions and conditions of oral cavity in rural areas of Sangli districtâ€

Oral cancer has become a global health problem and its increasing incidence and mortality rates are particularly relavant in certain parts of India.

Worldwide, oral cancer has one of the lowest survival rates that remain unalterd despite recent therapeutic advances. Early detection is widely recognized as the corner stone to reduce diagnostic delay and thus to improve survival. In many instances a significant proportion of oral squamous cell carcinomas developed from premalignant lesions and conditions such as leukoplakia, submucous fibrosis and lichen planus.

Identification of this oral premalignant lesions is very important in order to prevent malignant transformation and its related morbodity and mortality. The demographic details, sites and type of lesions, habits and its frequency of consumption, duration and type of habits including smoking and non smoking form, mixed habits and alcohol consumption can be studied in this respect and these hold much promice in creating awareness about association of these habits with oral precancer and cancer. Western Maharashtra is one of the important hub for tobacco manufacturing and studies have reported increased incidence of oral cancer in association with tobacco usage. Not many epidemiological studies have been conducted regarding oral precancer and hence our project aims to study the same in the rural areas of Sangli district and to creat awareness amongst the population about the deleterious effects of consumption of tobacco, areca nut and alcohol.

This cross sectional study will be carried out  in the rural areas of Sangli district. Informed written consent will be obtained prior to beginning of the study. Demographic details, socioeconomic status, information related to consumption of tobacco, areca nut and alcohol or other habits will be recorded. Oral examination of all the patients will be conducted day light with help of the diagnostic instruments. Patient awareness education will be given regarding the habits and its deleterious effects. All records entered will be cross- checked for correctness. The entire data obtained will be entered in MS Excel and analyzed in statistical package for social sciences (SPSS)