Comparative Study between Intralesional Steroid Injection and Oral Lycopene in the Treatment of Oral Submucous Fibrosis

Habie Thomas Samuel; G S Renukananda

Habie Thomas Samuel Ex Resident, Department of Otorhinolaryngology
G S Renukananda Professor, Department of Otorhinolaryngology

Keywords: Lycopene, Mouth opening, Oral submucous fi brosis, Steroid, Triamcinolone

Abstract

Introduction: Oral submucous fi brosis (OSMF) is a premalignant condition with rising incidence due to increase in addictive
habits like arecanut and tobacco chewing. Various treatment modalities have been tried including steroid injections though new
interest in use of natural plant pigments like lycopene has occurred.
Aim: The aim was to compare the effi cacy of intralesional steroid injection with oral lycopene in the treatment of OSMF.
Methodology: A randomized prospective study of 75 patients of OSMF who were divided into three groups of 25 each. Group A
patients received weekly intralesional triamcinolone (40 mg/ml) injections, Group B received oral lycopene 6 mg daily, and
Group C received both weekly steroid injection and oral lycopene for 2 months respectively. Mouth opening as inter-incisor
distance (mm) and burning sensation in the mouth using visual analog scale were recorded weekly.
Results: Mouth opening values for the patients showed a mean increase of 6.56 mm, 3.04 mm and 7.56 mm in Groups A, B
and C, respectively. Lycopene showed an early reduction in the burning sensation with a mean score of 4.8 in group B by the
1st week itself which was highly signifi cant (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: Lycopene can be used as a fi rst-line drug in the management of OSMF or even as an adjuvant with steroids
giving excellent results.

Author Biographies

Habie Thomas Samuel, Ex Resident, Department of Otorhinolaryngology

Jagadguru Jayadeva Murugarajendra Medical College, Davangere, Karnataka, India

G S Renukananda, Professor, Department of Otorhinolaryngology

Jagadguru Jayadeva Murugarajendra Medical College, Davangere, Karnataka, India

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