Comparison of curcumin with intralesional steroid injections in Oral Submucous Fibrosis - A randomized, open-label interventional study.

INTRODUCTION: Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSMF) is precancerous condition caused by areca nut chewing characterized by restricted mouth opening, burning sensation and stiffness & blanching of oral mucosa. Complete regression of the condition had not been achieved in all cases with any of the present treatment regimens. Curcumin is (diferuloylmethane), a yellow pigment in curry powder, exhibits anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and pro-apoptotic activities. Hence an interventional study was undertaken to establish the efficacy of curcumin in OSMF patients. SETTINGS & DESIGN: A randomized open label, interventional study was conducted in forty patients with clinically and histologically proven Oral Submucous Fibrosis. MATERIALS & METHODS: Forty patients with clinically and histologically proven Oral Submucous Fibrosis were selected for the study and were randomly divided into 2 groups. The first group was treated with weekly intralesional injection of 4 mg Dexamethasone & 1500 I.U Hyaluronidase and the second group by oral administration of two Curcumin tablets (Turmix 300 mg) per day for 3 months each. Improvement of burning sensation, interincisal distance and tongue protrusion was evaluated on a weekly basis. RESULTS: Burning sensation improved in both the groups from early to late stages. Complete resolution of burning sensation was noted with turmix. The mean increase in interincisal distance was 3.13 mm and 1.25 mm respectively in groups 1 &2. The interincisal distance improved in both the groups, with significant results at the end of first month. Tongue protrusion showed greater recovery at the end of 1st month in group 1 when compared with group 2. CONCLUSION: Turmix is beneficial and effective in reducing burning sensation in early OSMF patients.

Osteomyelitis affecting mandible in tuberculosis patients.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a frequent health problem in developing nations. It has two forms pulmonary and secondary causing other kinds of TB, collectively denoted extra pulmonary tuberculosis. The prevalence of extra pulmonary TB has increased in the last couple of years. Maxillofacial manifestations of tuberculosis form nearly 10% of all extra pulmonary manifestations of the disease. Extra pulmonary TB involving maxillofacial region is our prime concern. Very few cases of TB of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and mandible have been reported in literature. The clinical appearance of TB infection of the TMJ has been described as unspecific, resembling arthritis, osteomyelitis, cancer or any kind of chronic joint diseases. This article describes two cases where the bone, namely TMJ and angle of mandible are affected by tuberculosis. In addition to conventional radiographs we used Cone Beam Computed tomography (CBCT) to explore the third dimension of the lesion. Key words:Tuberculosis, bone, osteomyelitis, CBCT.