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
- Hyperplastic oral mucosa with squamous dysplasia (loss of maturation)
Treatment
- Immediate biopsy if change in appearance
- Surgery, laser ablation, cryosurgery, retinoids, etc
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