Leukoplakia definition of leukoplakia by medical dictionary. This article looks at leukoplakia of the head and neck hairy leukoplakia is dealt with separately. Leukoplakia is a firmly attached white patch on a mucous membrane which is associated with an increased risk of cancer. Leukoplakia could be classified as mucosal disease, and also as a premalignant condition. Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans.
Oral leukoplakia ol is one among important potentially malignant disorder pmd of the oral mucosa. Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or. This article looks at leukoplakia of the head and neck. Although the white color in leukoplakia is a result of hyperkeratosis or acanthosis, similarly appearing white lesions that are caused by reactive keratosis smokers keratosis or frictional keratoses e. Read and know what is leukoplakia as well as all about its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Leukoplakia are patches on the tongue, in the mouth, or on the inside of the cheek.
It has been defined as a predominantly white lesion of the oral mucosa that cannot be characterized as any other definable lesion. Oral proliferative verrucous leukoplakia pvl is a distinct subset of nonhomogenous leukoplakia. Leukoplakia is a premalignant lesion of the oral mucosa that presents as a white lesion or patch that cannot be characterized clinically or histopathologically as any other entity. Oral cancers often form near leukoplakia patches, and the patches themselves may show cancerous changes. Leukoplakia is typically not hazardous, but it often can be serious. Oral leukoplakia ol is the most common premalignant lesion of oral mucosa and it was first described by the world health organization in 1978 as a white patch or plaque that cannot be. The condition is thought to be caused by irritation, but the cause is not always known. Leukoplakia can be relatively harmless if the condition is caught early enough. You can also get them on the inside of your cheeks. Leukoplakia genetic and rare diseases information center. Most patches of leukoplakia are benign, but a small number can show early cancer symptoms, and numerous mouth cancers develop beside the areas of leukoplakia. The typical benign leukoplakia is also dealt with separately.
The growth can occur at any time in your life, but it is most common in the elderly. Il shows greater tendency for malignant transformation and studies have shown that the malignant transformation ranges from 0. Leukoplakia definition of leukoplakia by merriamwebster. Highlights the importance of early recognition and diagnosis of these lesions.
It usually occurs within the mouth, although sometimes mucosa in other parts of the gastrointestinal tract, urinary. Moderate diffuse grayness in this area is not an unusual observation, and plaques similar to those on the mucosa of the cheeks are mentioned occasionally. Kanmani2, n megalai3 1department of oral medicine and radiology, indira gandhi institute of dental sciences, pondicherry, india. Treatment depends on demographic, social, clinical, and histopathologic factors. Leukoplakia is a common condition characterized by an increased risk for malignant transformation. Hairy leukoplakia is a type of leukoplakia caused by the epsteinbarr virus. Leukoplakia has various appearances and changes can usually develop on the gums, the inside of cheeks, and the bottom of the mouth as well as often on the tongue and can also appear as. It may be due to a large number of etio logical factors. Leukoplakia, oral precancer, precancerous lesion, epithelial dysplasia, prognosis. Now customize the name of a clipboard to store your clips. Leukoplakia is a discomforting condition that affects around 3% of the world population.
Leukoplakia and erythroplakia are lesions observed most frequently on the mucosa of the mouth, but also on occasion in the throat and on the vocal folds. It is the mouths reaction to chronic irritation of the mucous membranes of. Therefore, it is advised to see the dentist if an individual has persistent, unusual changes in the mouth. However, the first appearance of the papular eruption of palatal leukoplakia in the american medical literature was in an article by fordyce and mackee 1 published in 1926. Oral leukoplakia and proliferative verrucous leukoplakia. Oral hairy leukoplakia can also appear in other people whose immune system is not working well, such as after a bone marrow transplant. Symptoms of the disease most cervical leukoplakia occursasymptomatic, may cause itching, which leads to the appearance of the calculations and abrasions. Risk factors include all forms of tobacco use forms including cigar, cigarette. It is a form of leukoplakia, which refers to white patches on the mucous membranes of the mouth often arising in response to chronic irritation. Leukoplasia definition of leukoplasia by medical dictionary.
It has a number of possible causes, including repeated injury or irritation. The edges of the lesion are typically abrupt and the lesion changes with time. Mar 01, 2015 oral leukoplakia in general is a potentially malignant disorder with an overall malignant transformation of 1% worldwide. Leukoplakia is a white or gray patch that develops on the tongue, the inside of the cheek, or on the floor of the mouth.
Leukoplakia definition is an abnormal condition in which thickened white patches of epithelium occur on the mucous membranes as of the mouth or vulva. Oral leukoplakia is a white patch or plaque that develops in the oral cavity and is strongly associated with smoking. Leukoplakia is a response to longterm irritation and is a precancerous condition that should never be ignored. This function is accomplished through a ligation between betacarotene and oxygen, which is an unstable reactive molecule, thus diminishing the damaging effects of free radicals lycopene in vitro experiments have shown the inhibition of the process of human neoplastic cellular growth by lycopene, since this. A type of leukoplakia of the mouth, called oral hairy leukoplakia, is caused by the epstein. Leukoplakia causes, pictures, symptoms, treatment, prognosis. Clinical manifestations more commonly appear on the tongue but can develop on the gingiva. The primary outcomes of interest were clinical resolution, malignant transformation, followup, and recurrence of ol. Grayish or white patches which can not be wiped away. They can result from irritations such as an illfitting denture or the habit of chewing on the inside of the cheek.
Without elaboration in the text, there was a photograph which portrayed a condition that the legend designated as mucous adenomas of the palate. May 21, 2012 leukoplakia is a condition in which thickened, white patches form on the tongue, gums, inside of the cheek, or sometimes on the outer female genitals. Idiopathic leukoplakia il being rare, must be differentiated from tobacco associated leukoplakia. Oral leukoplakia leukowhite, plakiapatch is a white patch in the mouth that cannot be rubbed off and cannot be diagnosed as any other condition. Much has been written concerning leukoplakia buccalis, but references to its occurrence on the palate are scanty. Nov 10, 2016 leukoplakia of the anterior floor of the mouth and undersurface of the tongue is strongly associated with malignant potential. Leukoplakia is a condition wherein white or gray patches appear in some parts of the mouth, predominantly in the buccal mucosa and the tongue. Although the sores can vary in appearance, they are usually white or gray.
Sufficient clinical and histologic evidence is available to support this sequence of events on the oral mucosa to make the leukoplakic origin of a certain percentage of intraoral carcinomas unquestionable. Leukoplakia appears as thick, white patches on the inside surfaces of your mouth. Leukoplakia free download as powerpoint presentation. It can also be a sign of precancerous changes in the mouth or mouth cancer. One study found that men over the age of 60 with oral leukoplakia on the lateral or ventral aspect of the tongue, who had a nonhomogenous lesion with highgrade dysplasia, were most at risk of malignant change 8. Even after leukoplakia patches are removed, the risk of oral cancer remains.
Small lesions can be helped through regular checkups and followups and the patient must also take responsibility for regularly inspecting his or her own mouth for any suspicious growths that may look abnormal. It often affects people with a weakened immune system, particularly those with hiv and aids or who have had an organ transplant and are taking immunosuppressant medication it causes fuzzy white patches, often on the sides of the tongue, that look folded or ridged. Lichen planus, yeast infections thrush, chronic cheek and tongue chewing injuries, and hairycoated tongue are some of the specific conditions that appear white in the mouth and are. Histopathology of leukoplakia can disclose hyperkeratosis with dysplasia or carcinoma or hyperkeratosis or parakeratosis without dysplasia. Oral leukoplakia may later prove to be due to one of the following conditions. Leukoplakia is a condition in which thick, white or grayish patches form usually inside your mouth. Leukoplakia is a condition in which thick, white patches or lesions appear within the mouth typically on the gums or inside the cheeks and is caused by excess cell growth.
The main purpose of oral leukoplakia management is to avoid malignant transformation of the lesion or if this happened to detect this in early stages. Leukoplakia affects the mucous membranes of the mouth. Nov 15, 2011 leukoplakia is a discomforting condition that affects around 3% of the world population. Moreover, it may be hyperkeratotic in nature, meaning there is hypertrophy or. May 10, 2019 leukoplakia is a condition in which thick, white or grayish patches form usually inside your mouth. Oral leukoplakia ol is the most frequent potentially malignant disorder of oral mucosa. Oral leukoplakia tsvetanov ts1 abstract oral leukoplakia is defined as a predominantly white lesion of the oral mucosa that cannot be characterized as any other definable lesion. However, leukoplakia is not limited as an oral disorder alone, as it may also appear in the genital area of the female. However, leukoplakia increases your risk of oral cancer. Leukoplakia are thick, whitishcolor patches that form on the inside of the cheeks, gums or tongue, these patches are caused by excess cell growth and are common among tobacco users. Ol is premalignant and is associated with squamous cell carcinoma scc. Leukoplakia definitionpage contents1 leukoplakia definition2 leukoplakia types3 what is homogeneous leukoplakia. A white patch in your mouth that does not go away should be checked by a dentist or gp. Hairy leukoplakia of the mouth is an unusual form of leukoplakia that is seen only in people who are infected with hiv, have aids, or aidsrelated complex.
Oral leukoplakia ol is a white patch or plaque that cannot be rubbed off, cannot be characterized clinically or histologically as any other condition, and is not associated with any physical or chemical causative agent except tobacco. This is a disorder which is most generally found in the elderly. Leukoplakia usually doesnt cause permanent damage to tissues in your mouth. Epidemiological and clinicopathological study of oral. The sores can vary in appearance but are typically white or gray, and have thick, raised edges with a hard surface. Oral leukoplakia ol is a white patch or plaque of the oral mucosa that cannot be characterised clinically or pathologically as any other condition such as cheek biting, candidosis, lichen planus and materia alba. Clipping is a handy way to collect important slides you want to go back to later.
Symptoms and treatment of cervical leukoplakia, oncology. Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia is a malignant form of leukoplakia of unknown etiology and is thought to be associated with human papilloma virus hpv. Jan 29, 20 oral leukoplakia ol is the most frequent potentially malignant disorder of oral mucosa. Leukoplakia, management, surgical, nonsurgical treatment, introduction oral leukoplakia ol is the most frequent precancerous lesion of the oral cavity. With leukoplakia lookohplaykeyuh, thickened, white patches form on your gums, the insides of your cheeks. Leukoplakia and erythroplakia sean parker institute for. Although one type of leukoplakia speckled leukoplakia carries a higher risk ofdevelopinginto malignancy than the other homogenous leukoplakia, the clinican must be equally aware of these lesions. Leukoplakiaa diagnostic and management algorithm sciencedirect. Leukoplakia is a condition in which thickened, white patches form on the tongue, gums, inside of the cheek, or sometimes on the outer female genitals. The list of treatments mentioned in various sources for leukoplakia includes the following list. They are commonly seen in smokers, individuals exposed to toxic irritants, and patients with nutritional deficiencies but they also occur in the absence of such factors. Leukoplakia pictures, causes, symptoms, treatment and.
A type of leukoplakia of the mouth, called oral hairy leukoplakia, is caused by the epsteinbarr virus. The aim of this paper was to assess the nonsurgical treatment of oral leukoplakia ol. Mar, 2019 oral leukoplakia ol is a white patch or plaque that cannot be rubbed off, cannot be characterized clinically or histologically as any other condition, and is not associated with any physical or chemical causative agent except tobacco. Leukoplakia of the mucous membranes probably represents the largest group of precancerous lesions. But other irritants can cause this condition as well. Hairy leukoplakia is a condition that is characterised by irregular white patches on the side of the tongue and occasionally elsewhere on the tongue or in the mouth. Leukoplakia is a relatively common clinical finding in clinical medicine. It starts as a slowgrowing, persistent, multifocal lesion. Provides an update on oral leukoplakia and proliferative verrucous leukoplakia. Oral leukoplakia is a chronic disease characterized by a thickening and hyperkeratosis of the mucosa. Leukoplakia can develop erosion of the seal and is on the cervix as a white spot. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. Leukoplakia patches can also develop on the female genital area. Oral leukoplakia describes a white patch or plaque of the oral mucosa that cannot be characterised clinically or pathologically as any other disease.