A Clinical Study on Ulcero-Membranous Lesions of Oral Cavity and Oropharynx

Description

Abstract (English)

Introduction: Ulcero-membranous lesions of oral cavity and oropharynx are common ENT complaint we
encounter in OPD and also pose effect on health of the patients and so it is important to establish proper
diagnosis and to provide appropriate treatment.
Aims: To determine the proportion of patients presenting with various clinical features of ulcero-membranous
lesions in oral cavity & oropharynx.
Materials and Methods: it is a prospective study done in department of ENT over a period of 18 months.
Patients with complaints of ulceromembranous lesions attending otorhinolaryngology OPD who are willing to
participate in study were considered for study.
Results: In present study, most common age group involved were 41-60 years constituting 45.09% and males
outnumbered females constituting 65.69%.Most common throat symptom was odynophagia followed by
burning sensation, dysphagia and throat pain. Associated ear complaints were present in 14.7% and nose
complaints in 5.9%.General symptoms like fever was present in 10.7%,loss of weight was present in 23.5%,
general weakness was present in 15.6%,skin lesions were present in 6.9%.Systemic diseases like diabetes was
present in 34.3%,hypertension was present in 25.4%,HIV was present in 3.9%.Risk factors like smoking present
in 43.1%,alchohol consumption present in14.7%,tobacco chewing present in 17.6%,prior radition exposure
present in 0.9%. Most common site affected in present study was tongue 44.1% followed by palate 29.4%,
buccal mucosa 15.6%, tonsils 8.8%, lips 7.8%,alveolus 2.9%, RMT 1.9%. Most common etiology found was
neoplastic etiologywhich constitute 41.1%, followed by inflammatory etiology 31.3%, infective etiology 20.5%
and miscellaneous 6.8%. 52.9% patients were managed conservatively and among patients with neoplastic
etiology, 36.2% were treated surgically by oncosurgery team and 10.7% patients were managed with
radiotherapy.
Conclusion: With increase in habits like smoking and chewing nicotine in any form in adult population there is
rise in incidence of malignancies .So high index of suspicion is needed while treating an oral ulcer especially
chronic ulcers. Biopsy and histopathological examination are always gold standard to confirm the diagnosis.