Leukoplakia and erythroplakia

Leukoplakia/erythroplakia 

Updated: 02/12/2021

© Jun Wang, MD, PhD

General features
  • Hyperkeratotic patches of clonal squamous cell growth
  • More common in old male
  • Associated with tobacco use, alcohol, ill-fitting dentures, chronic irritants 
  • HPV less likely important
  • May be precancerous, higher risk if in floor of mouth or ventral surface of tongue
  • Clinical term, considered precancerous until proven otherwise
  • May have spontaneous regression
Clinical presentations
  • Leukoplakia: smooth or warty white patch/plaque, cannot be scraped off
  • Erythroplakia: Red area, more likely have squamous dysplasia
Key morphological features
Treatment
  • Immediate biopsy if change in appearance
  • Surgery, laser ablation, cryosurgery, retinoids, etc



Back to oral cavity pathology
Back to contents

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Contents

Anemia

Lymphoid neoplasms