Classification of white lesions of oral cavity
How do you classify oral lesions?
Upon compilation of the relevant data, oral ulcerative lesions were categorized into three major groups: acute, chronic, and recurrent ulcers and into five subgroups: solitary acute, multiple acute, solitary chronic, multiple chronic, and solitary/multiple recurrent, based on the number and duration of lesions.
What are the types of leukoplakia?
There are two main types: homogenous and non-homogenous leukoplakia. Homogenous leukoplakia consists of uniformly white plaques which have a lower likelihood for turning into cancer. Non-homogenous leukoplakias, which resemble mixed red and white non-uniform patches, have a greater likelihood of turning into cancer.
What are the 2 common lesions that are encountered in the oral cavity?
Large-scale, population-based screening studies have identified the most common oral lesions as candidiasis, recurrent herpes labialis, recurrent aphthous stomatitis, mucocele, fibroma, mandibular and palatal tori, pyogenic granuloma, erythema migrans, hairy tongue, lichen planus, and leukoplakia.
What type of lesion is leukoplakia?
Oral leukoplakia is a potentially malignant disorder affecting the oral mucosa. It is defined as “essentially an oral mucosal white lesion that cannot be considered as any other definable lesion.” Oral leukoplakia is a white patch or plaque that develops in the oral cavity and is strongly associated with smoking.
What is the difference between leukoplakia and lichen planus?
Leukoplakia is a condition in which one or more white patches or spots (lesions) forms inside the mouth. Leukoplakia is different from other causes of white patches such as thrush or lichen planus because it can eventually develop into oral cancer.
What is the most common cause of leukoplakia?
Although the cause of leukoplakia is unknown, chronic irritation, such as from tobacco use, including smoking and chewing, appears to be responsible for most cases. Often, regular users of smokeless tobacco products eventually develop leukoplakia where they hold the tobacco against their cheeks.
How do you know if leukoplakia is cancerous?
A biopsy is the only way to know for certain if an area of leukoplakia or erythroplakia has dysplastic (pre-cancer) cells or cancer cells.
Should I be worried about leukoplakia?
Leukoplakia is usually harmless. Patches in the mouth often clear up in a few weeks or months after the source of irritation is removed. In some cases, the patches may be an early sign of cancer.
How long does leukoplakia last?
Leukoplakia is usually harmless, and lesions usually clear in a few weeks or months after the source of irritation is removed. If eliminating the source of irritation is ineffective in reducing leukoplakia, the lesion may need to be surgically removed.
How is leukoplakia removed?
Removal of leukoplakia patches.
Patches may be removed using a scalpel, a laser or an extremely cold probe that freezes and destroys cancer cells (cryoprobe).
What virus causes leukoplakia?
Oral hairy leukoplakia is a condition triggered by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). It causes white patches on your tongue. Sometimes the patches happen in other parts of your mouth. The patches may look hairy.
How can you distinguish between oral candidiasis and leukoplakia?
Leukoplakia tends to present with no symptoms other than the appearance of white or grey lesions while thrush can cause throat and mouth pain. Unlike leukoplakia, you may be able to remove oral thrush lesions by scraping and brushing.
Is oral leukoplakia malignant?
Oral leukoplakia is one of the most common potentially malignant disorders. Right diagnosis of potentially malignant disorders may help to prevent these lesions from malignant transformation.
What is leukoplakia made of?
| Leukoplakia | |
|---|---|
| Causes | Unknown |
| Risk factors | Smoking, chewing tobacco, excessive alcohol, betel nuts |
| Diagnostic method | Made after other possible causes ruled out, tissue biopsy |
| Differential diagnosis | Yeast infection, lichen planus, keratosis due to repeated minor trauma |
What causes OHL?
OHL is caused by the Epstein Barr virus (EBV), a virus of the herpes family that affects almost 95 percent of the population. While most people have an immune system able to control the virus, the diminished immune function in people with HIV provides OHL the opportunity to thrive.
What virus causes white tongue?
Infections that can cause a white tongue
Hairy leukoplakia (caused by Epstein-Barr virus; occurs most often in people with HIV/AIDS infection) Oral herpes virus infection (also known as herpetic stomatitis) Oral thrush (also known as candidiasis, which is caused by the yeast Candida albicans) Syphilis.
What are the differential diagnosis of leukoplakia?
Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
Lichen planus is usually bilateral, symmetric, and reticulated. Candidiasis resolves with anti-fungal therapy. Smokeless tobacco keratosis occurs where the tobacco is placed. Nicotinic stomatitis occurs on the palate almost exclusively and is symmetric with red punctate areas.
Is leukoplakia a hyperplasia?
Chronic hyperplastic candidiasis (CHC), earlier known as candidal leukoplakia, is a variant of oral candidiasis that classically presents as a white patch on the commissures of the oral mucosa and it is mostly caused by Candida albicans.