Autofluorescence spectroscopy of betel quid chewers and oral submucous fibrosis: A pilot study

CONTEXT: Oral lesions related to the use of commercially available tobacco (gutkha) is going to pose a major challenge for health care providers in India. Therefore, techniques that are useful for mass screening of the public for early identification of pre-cancerous lesions and conditions are necessary to overcome this challenge. AIMS: To identify the differences in autofluorescence spectra of normal oral mucosa, mucosa of betel quid chewers, and mucosa of oral sub mucous fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Group I consist of 15 individuals with clinical diagnosis of oral submucous fibrosis, Group II consists of 18 individuals without oral submucous fibrosis, having the habit of betel quid (gutkha) chewing and Group III consists of 18 normal individuals without the habit of betel quid chewing. Both males and females were included in the study with their age ranging from 18 to 53 years. In vivo fluorescence spectra were obtained using an optical fibre probe attached to Fluoromax-2 spectrofluorometer in the Department of Medical Physics, Anna University, Chennai, India. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Fisher's Chi square test was used for statistical analysis. Probability value (P value) was also obtained to discriminate the statistical differences between the three groups. RESULTS: The averaged emission and excitation spectra of oral submucous fibrosis was significantly less compared to normal mucosa and betel quid chewers. The statistical findings showed significant differences (P<0.001) between oral submucous fibrosis and the other two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Fluorescence spectroscopy can be used effectively for diagnosing the individuals affected by OSMF. However, this technique was unable to discriminate the betel chewers mucosa from normal individuals.