title: Qualitative and quantitative analysis of palmar dermatoglyphics among smokeless tobacco users.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Palm prints formed once does not change throughout life and is not influenced by environment. Palmar Dermatoglyphics can indicate the development of potentially malignant and malignant lesions and help in identifying persons at high risk of developing Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) and Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSSC).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the qualitative [finger ridge pattern and presence or absence of hypothenar pattern] and quantitative [mean ATD angle and total AB ridge count] variations in Palmar Dermatoglyphics in patients suffering from OSMF and OSCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective comparative study among 40 patients (Group I--10 samples of smokeless tobacco users with OSMF, Group II--10 samples of smokeless tobacco users with OSCC, Group III--10 samples of smokeless tobacco users without OSMF or OSCC and Group IV--10 samples without smokeless tobacco habit without OSMF and OSCC as controls) were selected.
  
  
  METHODS
  The palm prints were recorded using an HP inkjet scanner. The patients were asked to place the palm gently on the scanner with the fingers wide apart from each other. The images of the palm prints were edited and qualitative and quantitative analysis were done.
  
  
  METHODS
  Statistical analysis such as Kruskal Wallis, Post Hoc and Analysis of Varience were done.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A highly significant difference among the finger ridge, hypothenar pattern and mean ATD angle (P<0.001) and total AB ridge count (P=0.005) in OSMF and OSCC patients were obtained. There is predominance of arches and loops, presence of hypothenar pattern, decrease in mean ATD angle and total AB ridge count in OSMF and Oral Cancer patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Palmar Dermatoglyphics can predict the probable occurrence of OSMF and OSCC in smokelees tobacco users.
authors.forename: Athreya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vijayaraghavan
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Nalini
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aswath
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology; D003878:Dermatoglyphics; D005385:Fingers; D006801:Humans; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D036301:Qualitative Research; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000473:pathology*; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless