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Home » Topics A–Z » Oral leukoplakia
Author: Dr Delwyn Dyall-Smith, Dermatologist, 2009.
Oral leukoplakia describes a white patch or plaque of the oral mucosa that cannot be characterised clinically or pathologically as any other disease.
Oral leukoplakia may later prove to be due to one of the following conditions:
In children, the differential diagnosis includes dyskeratosis congenita and hidrotic ectodermal dysplasia.
There is a strong association with tobacco smoking (leukoplakia is six times more common in smokers than non-smokers) and alcohol intake (independent of drinking pattern or beverage type). It is also associated with betel quid chewing and oral submucous fibrosis.
The histopathology of oral leukoplakia is not always diagnostic. Epithelial changes range from atrophy (thinned) to hyperplasia (thickened), and it may show hyperkeratosis. Dysplasia (atypical changes) may be mild, moderate, severe, carcinoma in situ or invasive carcinoma. The pathology report must comment on the absence or presence of dysplasia and the severity.
The treatment of oral leukoplakia depends on its cause.
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