Occurrence of oral sebaceous glands in 43,654 industrial workers of Gujarat, India

Abstract

In the course of an extensive study on oral cancer and precancerous lesions in a selected sample of Indian industrial workers, 43,654 individuals over the age of 35 years were clinically examined for the presence and location of oral sebaceous glands. The prevalence of oral sebaceous glands was found to be 25 % in the study sample. This comparatively low prevalence rate is attributed to the high frequency of oral habits which may cause an atrophy of these glandular structures. Bilateral buccal mucosal involvement was the most common finding. The upper lip was much more frequently involved than the lower lip. Because these glands do not have any pathologic significance, they should be considered developmental disorders or structures within the limits of normal variation. Occasionally, when widespread, they may be mistaken for oral white lesions such as leukoplakia, lichen planus, etc.