Verrucous carcinoma of buccal mucosa associated with oral submucous fibrosis - A case report and review

The occurrence of verrucous carcinoma (VC), a rare, well-differentiated variant of squamous cell carcinoma, in conjunction with oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), a potentially malignant disorder characterized by progressive fibrosis of the oral mucosa, is uncommon. This paper presents an unusual case involving a 48-year old male patient who had a history of chewing areca nuts and who presented with a painless, exophytic lesion in the left lip and buccal mucosa, along with symptoms of restricted mouth opening and mucosal blanching typical of OSMF. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of verrucous carcinoma arising in the background of OSMF, and the patient underwent surgery with wide local excision. Post-surgery, the patient developed persistent trismus that was not responsive to conservative therapy. Surgical reconstruction with a nasolabial flap was performed, resulting in a significant improvement in mouth opening and oral function.