Dermatoglyphic Pattens in OSMF and Leukoplakia - A Comparative Study

The term dermatoglyphics was first used in 1926 by anatomist Cummins. Dermatoglyphic is a term that refers to "a skin carving." The unique carve present on the skin surface of humans and other living beings is referred to as dermatoglyphics. This research was conducted to understand the variations in patterns and assess the usefulness of dermatoglyphics among individuals diagnosed with potentially malignant diseases and mouth cancer. Three hundred subjects were selected. The study consisted of three groups. Patients were divided into the following groups: Group I: oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) (100), Group II: ORAL LEUKOPLAKIA (100), and Group III: Healthy Individuals (100). Our research study indicates a difference in dermatoglyphic patterns between patients and healthy individuals. Specifically, there is a lower percentage of loop patterns and an increase in arch patterns in OSMF and leukoplakia patients. These findings suggest that dermatoglyphics may have relevance in understanding or identifying certain health conditions.