A prospective transmission electron microscopic study of muscle status in oral submucous fibrosis along with retrospective analysis of 80 cases of oral submucous fibrosis

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: The present study is undertaken to study the ultra structural features of muscle tissue in moderate and advanced stages of oral submucous fibrosis along with retrospective analysis of 80 cases of oral submucous fibrosis ( osmf) 0 during the period of year 2002 to 2005. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five patients with moderate and advanced stages of osmf0 were screened from outpatients department of oral diagnosis, sri Ramachandra dental college and hospital. After a detailed case history, they were subjected to incisional biopsy from an area of buccal mucosa with maximum palpable fibrotic bands.the specimens were cut into two halves, one half was fixed in 10% formalin for routine processing. Second half was fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde for electron microscopic examination. RESULTS: Prospective study of muscle fibres from moderate and advanced stages of osmf0 revealed varying changes in high proportion of muscle fibres which includes, irregularity of surface of fibre,sarcolemmal foldings, reduplicated basement membrane, loss and alterations in the myofilaments, hypercontraction of myofibrils, Z line abnormalities, internal nucleus, autophagic vacuoles. These features are suggestive of muscle atrophy and necrosis. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that the ultra structural features In moderate and advanced stages of osmf0 were best studied. These muscle changes can be manifestation of disease, atrophy being secondary to the limited functional activity of the muscles which is brought about by fibrosis or it could be essential part of the disease process itself.