Tracy Dentist - What is oral leukoplakia? - Smiles by Design in Livermore

What is oral leukoplakia?

Oral leukoplakia is the most common premalignant or potentially malignant disorder of the oral mucosa.
It is defined as a white patch or plaque of the oral mucosa that cannot be characterized clinically or pathologically as any other disease.

Oral leukoplakia is a clinical diagnosis of exclusion. Diseases to be excluded include nicotine stomatitis, candidiasis, lichen planus, frictional keratoses, habitual cheek or lip biting, lupus erythematosus, etc.

Who does it affect?

Oral leukoplakia may affect about 0.5% of the world population, although it is likely to vary with gender, geography and ethnicity.
There is a strong association with tobacco smoking (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.
It usually appears in adult life with prevalence increasing with increasing age:

• found in less than 1% of men under 30 years of age
• 8% of men over 70 years of age
• 2% of women over 70 years of age
• rare before age 30, peaks after 50 years
• mainly affects middle aged to elderly men
• non-smokers are likely to present at an older age.

Clinical features of oral leukoplakia

An early lesion is a slightly elevated grey-white plaque either well defined or which blends in gradually with surrounding mucosa. It can be a localised solitary lesion or multifocal and diffuse.
Two clinical forms are recognised.
1. Homogeneous – refers to homogeneous uniform colour AND texture

• uniform white colour
• uniform flat, thin appearance

The surface may become leathery – smooth, wrinkled, corrugated or with shallow cracks. This form is usually asymptomatic.
2. Non-homogeneous – refers to irregularity of either the colour OR the texture

• predominantly white or white-red (erythroleukoplakia)
• irregular texture which can be flat, nodular, exophytic, warty

Variants of the non-homogeneous form have been described including nodular, verrucous (including proliferative verrucous) and speckled. This form may be associated with mild discomfort or localized pain.
The most common site affected is the inside cheeks (buccal mucosa) and then in decreasing order of frequency:

• gums (alveolar mucosa)
• lower lip
• floor of mouth (under tongue)
• sides or undersurface of tongue (lateral or ventral tongue)
• soft palate

How is the diagnosis made?

• Biopsy of clinically suspected oral leukoplakia is mandatory to: exclude recognised diseases, and to assess for the absence or presence and grade of dysplasia.
• It is appropriate to wait 2 weeks after first presentation to assess clinical response to initial treatment, e.g. for candida, change in tooth brushing habit, cessation of smoking, etc
• The biopsy may be incisional or excisional, single or multiple and may be done under local or general anaesthetic depending on site, number of biopsies required and type of biopsy.
• Biopsies should be taken from either a symptomatic area, or if asymptomatic then from red or indurated areas.
• The presence of dysplasia, carcinoma-in-situ and invasive carcinoma cannot always be predicted clinically.

The histopathology of oral leukoplakia is not 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.

 

Treatment of oral leukoplakia

It is not known if early active treatment prevents the possible development of squamous cell carcinoma and there is a high recurrence rate after treatment.

1. Avoid aggravating habits eg quit smoking, and
2. Surgical excision, or
3. CO2 laser – excision or vaporisation.
4. Possible other options – retinoids (acitretin or isotretinoin), photodynamic therapy.

Lifelong follow-up is recommended whether or not the disorder has been treated:

• 3-12 monthly clinical checks
• Biopsy of suspicious changes

Oral mucosal examination must include the floor of mouth and sides of tongue using gauze to hold tip of the tongue and pull upwards and side to side. Most oral SCC develop in the sides & undersurface of the tongue, floor of mouth and back to the soft palate and tonsillar area. 

source: http://dermnetnz.org/site-age-specific/oral-leukoplakia.html

References:

• Dermatology. Ed. Bolognia, J et al. 2nd edition 2007. Mosby.
• van der Waal, Isaäc . Potentially malignant disorders of the oral and oropharyngeal mucosa; terminology, classification and present concepts of management. Oral Oncology 45 (2009) 317–323. Medline.

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