leukoplakia
Also known as leucoplakia, idiopathic white patch, leukoplasia
Oral leukoplakia is a potentially malignant disorder affecting the oral mucosa. It is defined as "essentially an oral mucosal white/gray lesion that cannot be considered as any other definable lesion." Oral leukoplakia is a gray patch or plaque that develops in the oral cavity and is strongly associated with smoking. Leukoplakia is a firmly attached white patch on a mucous membrane which is associated with increased risk of cancer. The edges of the lesion are typically abrupt and the lesion changes with time. Advanced forms may develop red patches. There are generally no other symptoms. It usu
Key facts
- Medical condition (new).name
- Leukoplakia
- Medical condition (new).synonyms
- Leucoplakia, leukokeratosis, idiopathic leukoplakia, leukoplasia, idiopathic keratosis, idiopathic white/gray patch
- Medical condition (new).image
- Leukoplakia02-04-06.jpg
- Medical condition (new).caption
- Leukoplakia on the inside of the cheek
- Medical condition (new).field
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery, Oral medicine, Dentistry
- Medical condition (new).symptoms
- Firmly attached white/gray patch on a mucous membrane, changes with time, Tongue with a white or light gray color
- Medical condition (new).complications
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Medical condition (new).onset
- After 30 years old
- Medical condition (new).causes
- Unknown
- Medical condition (new).risks
- Smoking, chewing tobacco, excessive alcohol, betel nuts
- Medical condition (new).diagnosis
~38 min read
Article
40 sectionsContents
- Classification
- Mouth
- Homogeneous leukoplakia
- Non-homogeneous leukoplakia
- Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia
- Erythroleukoplakia
- Sublingual keratosis
- Candidal leukoplakia
- Oral hairy leukoplakia
- Syphilitic leukoplakia
- Esophagus
- Bladder
- Anal canal
- Signs and symptoms
- Causes
- Tobacco
- Alcohol
- Sanguinaria
- Ultraviolet radiation
- Micro-organisms
- Epithelial atrophy
- Trauma
- Pathophysiology
- Tumor suppressor genes
- DNA damage
- Diagnosis
- Definition
- Biopsy
- Histologic appearance
- Differential diagnosis
- Management
- Predisposing factors and review
- Surgery
- Medications
- Prognosis
- Epidemiology
- Etymology
- History
- References
- External links
Oral leukoplakia is a potentially malignant disorder affecting the oral mucosa. It is defined as "essentially an oral mucosal white/gray lesion that cannot be considered as any other definable lesion." Oral leukoplakia is a gray patch or plaque that develops in the oral cavity and is strongly associated with smoking. Leukoplakia is a firmly attached white patch on a mucous membrane which is associated with increased risk of cancer. The edges of the lesion are typically abrupt and the lesion changes with time. Advanced forms may develop red patches. There are generally no other symptoms. It usually occurs within the mouth, although sometimes mucosa in other parts of the gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, or genitals may be affected.
The cause of leukoplakia is unknown. Risk factors for formation inside the mouth include smoking, chewing tobacco, excessive alcohol, and use of betel nuts. One specific type is common in HIV/AIDS. It is a precancerous lesion, a tissue alteration in which cancer is more likely to develop. The chance of cancer formation depends on the type, with between 3–15% of localized leukoplakia and 70–100% of proliferative leukoplakia developing into squamous cell carcinoma.