Where is leukoplakia located?
Leukoplakia usually occurs on your gums, the insides of your cheeks, the bottom of your mouth — beneath the tongue — and, sometimes, your tongue. It isn’t usually painful and may go unnoticed for a while. Leukoplakia may appear: White or grayish in patches that can’t be wiped away.
What is leukoplakia of oral cavity?
Leukoplakia is a condition that involves white patches or spots on the inside of the mouth. It can be caused by chewing tobacco, heavy smoking, and alcohol use.
What are the stages of leukoplakia?
Four stages have been described in its development, initially as a simple hyperkeratosis without epithelial dysplasia, followed by verrucous hyperplasia, verrucous carcinoma, and finally conventional carcinoma [20–22].
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 |
How is leukoplakia diagnosed?
Leukoplakia is usually diagnosed with an oral exam. During an oral exam, your healthcare provider can confirm if the patches are leukoplakia. You might mistake the condition for oral thrush. Thrush is a yeast infection of the mouth.
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.
How do you cure leukoplakia?
Leukoplakia treatment is most successful when a lesion is found and treated early, when it’s small. Regular checkups are important, as is routinely inspecting your mouth for areas that don’t look normal. For most people, removing the source of irritation ― such as stopping tobacco or alcohol ― clears the condition.
Can leukoplakia heal itself?
In most cases, leukoplakia will go away on its own and doesn’t require treatment. Just make sure to avoid any triggers, such as smoking. If the biopsy came positive for oral cancer, then the doctors will remove the patches immediately to stop the cancer from spreading.
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).
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