Characterization of muscle alteration in oral submucous fibrosis-seeking new evidence

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the progression of Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSF) by investigating the correlation between clinical mouth opening and muscle-epithelial distance in tissue sections. Characterization of changes involving muscle was ascertained. Material and Methods: 50 cases and 10 controls were included in this case-control study. Inter-incisal mouth opening was measured and classified according to Lai et al . as Group A (more than 35mm), Group B (30 to 35mm), Group C (20 to 30mm), Group D (less than 20mm). Histopathological sections were graded as very early, early, moderately advanced, advanced OSF. Muscle-epithelial distance was calculated using image analysi…