2. Introduction
Known as smoker's keratosis .
Leukoplakia is a predominatly white lesion of the
oral mucosa.
Characterised by thickened white patches.
The term leukoplakia is a clinical descriptor only
and should not be used once the histological
information is available.
3. Incidence
Incidence and prevalance of leukoplakia vary in
different parts of the world.
It is more frequent in middle aged and older
man .
Men are more affected in some countries while
this is not a case in western india .
5. Homogeneous leukoplakia
Defined as predominantly white lesion of uniform
flat and thin appearance that may exhibit shallow
cracks and has a smooth ,wrinkled surface.
This type is usually asymptomatic
6. Non -homogeneous leukoplakia
It is white or white and red lesion (
erythroleukoplakia).
They may be either irregular flat and nodular.
This may be associated wild mild complaints of
localised pain and dis comfort.
7. Proligerative verucous leukoplakia is an aggresive
leukoplakia which is invariably malignant .
This is characterised by widespread and multifocal
apperance often in patient without known risk
factor.
Oral carcinoma may develop from any type of
leukoplakia.
8. Signs and symptoms
White or gray colour patches .
Thick hard raised surface .
Hairy appearance ..only in hairy leukoplakia.
Red spots rare _may be a sign of cancer .
Some women may develope leukoplakia
outside their genitals in the vulvar region .
9. Causes ! And risk factor!
The exact cause is not known .
Risk factor
It is primarily linked to tobacco use .
Smoking is the most common cause.
Chewing tobacco.
injury to the inside of the cheek such as from
biting.
By rough uneven teeth.
Long term alcohol use .
Inflamatory condition of the body .
10. Hairy leukoplakia
The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the main cause of
hairy leukoplakia. Once you get this virus, it
remains in your body permanently. EBV is usually
dormant. However, it can cause hairy leukoplakia
patches to develop at any time. Outbreaks are more
common in people with HIV or other immune
problems.
11. Diagnosis
Leukoplakia is usually diagnosed with an oral
exam. During an oral exam, your dentist or
primary care doctor can confirm if the patches are
leukoplakia. You might mistake the condition for
oral thrush. Thrush is a yeast infection of the
mouth. The patches it causes are usually softer than
leukoplakia patches. They may bleed more easily.
Leukoplakia patches, unlike oral thrush, cannot be
wiped away.
Your dentist or doctor may need to do other tests to
confirm the cause of your spots. This helps them
suggest a treatment that may prevent future patches
12. If a patch looks suspicious, your dentist or doctor will
do a biopsy. To do a biopsy, they remove a small
piece of tissue from one or more of your spots. They
then send that tissue sample to a pathologist for
diagnosis to check for precancerous or cancerous
cells.
13. Treatment
Most patches improve on their own and don’t
require any treatment. It’s important to avoid
any trigger that may have caused your
leukoplakia, such as tobacco use. If it’s related
to irritation from a dental problem, your dentist
may be able to address this.
14. ■ If a biopsy comes back positive for oral cancer, the patch
must be removed immediately. This can help prevent the
spread of the cancer.
■ Patches can be removed by using laser therapy, a scalpel,
or a freezing procedure
15. ■ Hairy leukoplakia is not likely to result in mouth
cancer and usually does not require removal. Your
dentist or doctor might prescribe antiviral medications
to help stop the patches from growing. Topical
ointments containing retinoic acid can also be used to
reduce patch size.
16. Prevention
Many cases of leukoplakia can be prevented with lifestyle
changes:
Stop smoking or chewing tobacco.
Reduce alcohol use.
Eat antioxidant-rich foods such as spinach and carrots.
Antioxidants may help deactivate irritants that cause
patches.
17. *Contact your dentist or doctor immediately if you suspect
leukoplakia. This can help keep the patches from getting
worse.
*Follow-up appointments are crucial. Once you develop
leukoplakia, you have an increased risk of developing it
again in the future.
18. Long term of this leads to :
In most cases, leukoplakia isn’t life threatening. The
patches don’t cause permanent damage to your mouth.
Lesions usually clear on their own within a few weeks
after the source of irritation is removed. However, if your
patch is particularly painful or looks suspicious, your
dentist may order tests to rule out:
#oral cancer
#HIV
#AIDS
