EVALUATION OF SERUM BETA(2)-MICROGLOBULIN IN PREMALIGNANT AND MALIGNANT LESIONS OF THE ORAL CAVITY

Serum beta-(2)-microglobulin was estimated in patients with oral leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis, and oral cancer. The results were compared with that of an equal number of age- and sex-matched healthy controls. A definite increase in the level of beta(2)-microglobulin was observed in patients with oral submucous fibrosis and oral cancer. Though the level of beta(2)-microglobulin was found to be high in oral leukoplakia, it was not statistically significant. Further studies will validate the role of beta(2)-microglobulin estimation to predict the malignant potential of oral submucous fibrosis.