Role of Antioxidant Vitamins in Oral Submucous Fibrosis: A Narrative Review.

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) has a high rate of malignant transformation and is an insidious chronic inflammatory disease. Though this disorder seems to be multifactorial in origin, betel quid chewing appears to be the main etiologic factor. Various treatment strategies have been attempted but none proven to cure the disorder because of its multimodal pathogenesis. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) appear to have a role in cancer formation. As OSMF is an oral premalignant disorder and found to be associated with carcinogens like areca nut and tobacco, it is believed to have some relationship with ROS. Tissue damage due to ROS along with other mechanisms may result in the complex pathophysiology of OSMF. The antioxidant system in the body helps to prevent damage caused by highly reactive ROS and helps in the repair of tissues. To study the levels of oxidative stress and antioxidant vitamins in OSMF condition, the present review was done. We carried out a thorough literature search to identify original reports and studies determining the status of oxidative stress and antioxidant vitamins in OSMF condition using several databases including Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus. Our review observed that the oxidative stress increased in the condition of OSMF as shown by an increase in malonaldehyde (MDA) and a decrease in antioxidant vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Also, after the intake of antioxidant vitamins, there was symptomatic improvement in OSMF patients. With the help of identifying oxidative stress and antioxidant status, we can assess the clinical stage of OSMF and can develop a comprehensive treatment plan.

Metastatic involvement of parotid from carcinoma of the breast--a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Involvement of parotid gland by metastases from distant primary malignant tumors is rare. CASE REPORT: A 42-year-old female having right breast cancer had reported to the Department of Oral Diagnosis and Medicine with a chief complaint of a swelling in the left parotid gland region for 2 months. On the basis of clinical findings, the primary malignancy of parotid gland was provisionally suspected. DISCUSSION: Microscopic examination of parotid and breast revealed that parotid gland was involved as a distant metastases from a breast carcinoma, indicating that a swelling in the parotid needs to be assessed and investigated very carefully.