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Epidemiological survey of oral submucous fibrosis in Xiangtan City, Hunan Province, China
Author(s) -
Tang JieGing,
Jian XiangFu,
Gao MingLiang,
Ling TianYou,
Zhang KuiHua
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
community dentistry and oral epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.061
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1600-0528
pISSN - 0301-5661
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0528.1997.tb00918.x
Subject(s) - areca , oral submucous fibrosis , medicine , dentistry , epidemiology , nut , population , beijing , dermatology , china , environmental health , structural engineering , engineering , political science , law
Oral submucous fibrosis is a high risk precancerous condition and is suggested to be caused by areca nut chewing. Areca nut chewing is popular in Hunan Province of China, and is more concentrated in Xiangtan City. Two and nine cases of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) were first noticed in 1984 and 1985 respectively, and an epidemiologic survey was subsequently performed in 1986. The epidemiologic method of cluster sampling was used. The Yuhu District, one of the five urban districts of the Xiangtan City with a population of 100 000 was selected as a whole body in the survey. 57 independent units of various professions were randomly selected as group samples and more than 70% of subjects in each unit were examined. Definite fibrous band on palpation was used as a main diagnostic criterion for OSF. A total of 11 046 individuals were examined; among them were 3 907 areca nut chewers (35.37%) and 7 139 non‐chewers (64.63%). 335 cases of OSF were found, comprising a prevalence rate of 3.03%. The disease involved mainly the middle third of the oral cavity. All of the OSF cases were areca nut chewers. No case had been found in non‐chewers. Four cases of oral carcinoma were found on the basis of OSF, the malignant transformation rate was 1.19%. The high prevalence of OSF may be due to areca nut chewing plus extensive and heavy use of hot pepper in Xiangtan people. The result supports the role of the areca nut as an etiologic factor in the development of OSF. The low malignant transformation rate of 1.19% compared with the 7.6% in an Indian report may be because Xiangtan people chew areca nut without tobacco.