K. A. Kamala

Tobacco smoking is globally far more widespread than use of any other form of substance abuse. Its use remains the leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality, each year causing more than 6 million deaths globally. The World Health Organization estimates there are 1.3 billion smokers worldwide and each year 5 million smokers die because of tobacco-related diseases. Data suggest that up to 70% of current smokers want to quit and 40% attempt to do so each year. Timely intervention in smoking cessation not only reduces the risk of major disease, but also modifies the clinical course and outcome of certain diseases. There are various pharmacological and non pharmacological measures available which need to be implemented properly and timely. Strategies for assisting smoking cessation include non-pharmacological therapies to enhance motivation and to support attempts to quit and pharmacological intervention to reduce nicotine reinforcement and withdrawal from nicotine. The pharmacological interventions include nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and antidepressants. Non-pharmacologic interventions includes behavioral interventions, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), individual or group consoling, telephone counseling and self –help counseling. The present review aims at analyzing the current knowledge of various smoking cessation strategies

Nodal calcifications in the neck region are uncommon, only occurring in about 1% of enlarged nodes. Cervical lymph node calcification is usually asymptomatic and may be found on a routine panoramic survey. Clinical studies have shown that lymph node calcifications mostly associated with underlying benign inflammatory or infectious diseases or less frequently with malignant diseases. In the head and neck region, the most commonly involved nodes are the submandibular and cervical nodes; when calcified these nodes are generally asymptomatic. Clinician must be aware of such lesions and should be able to diagnosed and differentiate from other radiopacities occurring in this region. Here we report a case of a solitary right submandibular lymph node calcification in 55year old male patient which was an incidental finding on panoramic radiograph.