Oral submucous fibrosis is a chronic, precancerous condition, found to affect the South and South East Asian population especially those in the Indian subcontinent. The aspect of etiopathogenesis is still obscure, thereby accounting for extensive research in this field. Various etiological factors ranging from chilli consumption to arecanut and other environmental factors have been studied over the years. Due to the widespread use of the commercially available tobacco and arecanut products the incidence of the oral submucous fibrosis is very high in the central India. Studies have been done on the same topic before but now there is a paradigm shift from a female preponderence towards a male preponderence and the local triamcinolone therapy is highly effective according to the present study.The results of this study will be beneficial in planning treatment for oral submucous fibrosis.

MBBS, MS.E.N.T,Consultant ENT and Head and Neck Surgeon .Valluvanadu hospital,Ottappalam,Kerala, INDIA.