Oral Submucous Fibrosis
Also written as: OSF
A chronic, progressive, potentially malignant disorder of the oral mucosa characterised by fibroelastic change and epithelial atrophy, strongly associated with areca nut use.
Full Definition
Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a condition predominantly seen in populations from South and Southeast Asia where betel quid and areca nut chewing are prevalent. It causes progressive stiffening of the oral mucosa, resulting in trismus, difficulty swallowing, and a markedly increased risk of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Editors should be aware that OSF is the accepted abbreviation and should be expanded on first use. The aetiology section of manuscripts will frequently reference 'areca nut' rather than 'betel nut'; editors should note that these are technically distinct and should not be standardised without author confirmation. The disorder is classified as a potentially malignant disorder (PMD) by the WHO.
Usage
Usage note: Expand OSF on first use. Do not substitute 'betel nut' for 'areca nut' without confirming the author's intent, as they refer to different botanical substances.
In Context
- "Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) was diagnosed based on restricted mouth opening and blanching of the buccal mucosa." — Diagnostic report
- "The paper examined malignant transformation rates in OSF patients over a ten-year follow-up period." — Research article