Leukoplakia is a white patch on the oral mucosa that cannot be rubbed of nor attributed to any other condition.
Yes, oral leukoplakia is classified as a precancerous condition.
The most common type of oral cancer: Oral squamous cell carcinoma
The risk of malignant transformation has been reported as ranging from 0.13% to 2.2% per year in community-based cohorts in developing nations (Napier and Speight, 2008), while higher risks have been reported from studies done in hospital-based tertiary clinics in developed countries, with 1.1% to 17.5% of patients with leukoplakia developing OSCCA over varying follow-up periods (Napier and Speight, 2008). The overall risk has been estimated to be about 1 % per year (Petti S, 2003, Van Der Vaal, 2009), however certain clinical features increase the risk for malignant transformation, including older age, longer duration, female sex, site (floor of mouth and lateral tongue are high-risk sites), speckled, nodular or verrucous appearance, greater size, and absence of risk factors such as smoking (Napier and Speight, 2008, Van Der Vaal, 2009).
Typically oral leukoplakia does not cause any discomfort, and in many cases can completely asymptomatic. However in some cases, it may cause some degree of discomfort including sensitivity to spicy or acidic foods.
There is no proven safe and effective drug treatment for leukoplakia (Lodi G et al., 2002).
a. You should quit tobacco use, betel nut use and gutka use
b. Limit alcohol intake
c. Increase intake of fruits and vegetables
d. You should also follow the additional recommendations from the American Institute of Cancer Research for prevention of cancer (http://www.aicr.org/site/PageServer?pagename=recommendations_home)
a. Oral leukoplakia is managed with regular oral examinations and if feasible, surgical excision. The purpose of regular oral examination is to enable early diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Surgical excision currently is the most commonly used treatment approach for oral leukoplakia. Surgical approaches include use of a scalpel for excision and/or use of a laser for excision and/or vaporization [eg. Carbon dioxide(CO2) laser (wavelength 10.6 micrometer), Nd: YAG laser (wavelength 1064 nm), KTP laser (wavelength 532 nm)].
CO2 lasers produce minimal thermal damage to underlying tissue, and have the advantage of decreased damage to adjacent structures as compared to the other laser wavelengths. The advantages of CO2 laser excision include a bloodless field preserving visibility, precise control, and improved healing with less scarring, and therefore this is a popular treatment approach for management of leukoplakia.
A successful outcome following leukoplakia excision is healing of the surgical site with normal appearing mucosa. Post surgical recurrence occurs when the surgical site heals in with leukoplakia.
Yes, there is a risk the lesion may recur or develop at another site in the oral cavity. Therefore regular oral examinations are necessary.
Lichen planus is a chronic, autoimmune condition that can affect the mucous membrane lining the oral cavity. In some cases it also affects the skin and or other mucous membranes. In the mouth it can present as white changes, red changes and ulcerations.
The cause of lichen planus in most cases is unknown. Some environmental exposures such as medications can cause oral changes that may resemble lichen planus. In addition, some studies have found an association between oral lichen planus and Hepatitis C virus infection, however this has not been consistently seen in all studies and the significance of this association is still being investigated in research studies.
Symptoms from oral lichen planus may range from none to extreme oral discomfort, including soreness and sensitivity to spicy and/or acidic foods. Typically the atrophic and ulcerative oral lichen planus cases are associated with greater discomfort.
While there is no known cure for oral lichen planus, medications to reduce symptoms from oral lichen planus are available. The most commonly used medications include topical and systemic glucocorticosteroids. In addition, curcuminoids, which are extracts from the turmeric root can also help.
Yes, oral lichen planus is classified as a precancerous condition.
The most common type of oral cancer: Oral squamous cell carcinoma
The risk of oral squamous cell cancer in patients with oral lichen planus is thought to be increased, however the risk estimates have varied greatly between studies and populations. Patients with ulcerative forms of oral lichen planus are thought to have higher risks for development of oral squamous carcinoma as compared with atrophic or reticular forms of oral lichen planus.
a. You should quit tobacco use, betel nut use and gutka use
b. Limit alcohol intake
c. Increase intake of fruits and vegetables
d. You should also follow the additional recommendations from the American Institute of Cancer Research for prevention of cancer (http://www.aicr.org/site/PageServer?pagename=recommendations_home)
Oral lichen planus is managed with use of medications if there is any discomfort associated with the oral lichen planus. In addition, regular oral examinations to monitor for and to enable early diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma are recommended.
Yes, regular oral examinations are recommended for all patients with oral lichen planus.
