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Updated: Jun 28, 2025
Author Spotlight: Unlocking the Mysteries of Oral Potential Malignancies
Published on: August 11, 2023
Comparative Analysis of Tissue Copper Levels in Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSMF) Patients
Rahul Srivastava1, Dhirendra K Singh2, Pallavi A Thomas3
1Department of Oral medicine and Radiology, Rama Dental College Hospital and Research Center, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Background:
Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a recognized potentially malignant oral condition linked to the consumption of areca nut. Chewing areca nut has been shown to elevate soluble copper levels in mouth fluids.
Materials And Methods:
Participants: The study included a panel of 30 patients with OSMF from Rama Dental College, Kanpur, India, and 30 nonareca chewing individuals serving as controls. Tissue Sample Collection and Analysis: Buccal mucosal biopsies were obtained from both OSMF patients and controls. The tissue copper concentrations were quantified using mass absorption spectrometry (MAS). Additionally, energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX) was employed to identify the presence and distribution of copper in the tissue.
Statistical Analysis:
Statistical comparisons were performed using appropriate methods, with a P-value of less than 0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results:
MAS analysis revealed that the mean tissue copper level was 6.2 ± 3.1 micrograms per gram (μg/g) in OSMF specimens (n = 30), slightly higher than the 4.5 ± 2.0 μg/g in the nonareca chewing controls (n = 30) (P = 0.1). EDX analysis showed distinct copper peaks in both the epithelium (22/23) and connective tissue (18/23) of OSMF specimens compared to control biopsies. These findings were corroborated by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) in a subset of samples.
Conclusion:
The study revealed higher copper concentrations in buccal mucosal tissue of OSMF patients from Rama Dental College, Kanpur, suggesting a potential connection between copper and the initiation of OSMF.
