eMedicine Specialties > Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery > Head & Neck Surgery

Oral Leukoplakia, Idiopathic

Author: Nikos Soukos, DDS, PhD, Director of the Applied Molecular Photomedicine Laboratory, Assistant Member of the Staff, The Forsyth Institute, Clinical Collaborative, Massachusetts General Hospital
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Feb 7, 2008

Introduction

Background

Oral leukoplakia (OL) is a white patch or plaque that cannot be rubbed off, cannot be characterized clinically or histologically as any other condition, and is not associated with any physical or chemical causative agent except tobacco. Therefore, a process of exclusion establishes the diagnosis of the disease. In general, the term leukoplakia implies only the clinical feature of a persistent, adherent white plaque; therefore, reserve the term for idiopathic lesions when investigations fail to reveal any cause. The term carries absolutely no histologic connotation, although, inevitably, some form of disturbance of the surface epithelium is characteristic.

Follow-up studies suggest that cancer is more likely to occur in individuals with idiopathic leukoplakia than in individuals who do not have this condition. Thus, idiopathic leukoplakia is considered a premalignant lesion.

Pathophysiology

The etiology of most cases of OL is unknown (idiopathic). In other cases, the initiation of the condition may depend on extrinsic local factors and/or intrinsic predisposing factors. Factors most frequently blamed for the development of idiopathic leukoplakia include tobacco use, alcohol consumption, chronic irritation, candidiasis, vitamin deficiency, endocrine disturbances, and possibly a virus.

Frequency

International

OL occurs in fewer than 1% of individuals.

Mortality/Morbidity

OL is considered to be potentially malignant, with a transformation rate in various studies and locations that range from 0.6 to 20%.

Sex

OL is more common in men than in women, with a male-to-female ratio of 2:1.

Age

Most cases of OL occur in persons in their fifth to seventh decade of life. Approximately 80% of patients are older than 40 years.

Clinical

History

  • Oral leukoplakia (OL) manifests as patches that are bright white and sharply defined. The surfaces of the patches are slightly raised above the surrounding mucosa.
  • Individuals with OL are not symptomatic.

Physical

  • Three stages of OL have been described.
    • The earliest lesion is nonpalpable, faintly translucent, and has white discoloration.
    • Next, localized or diffuse, slightly elevated plaques with an irregular outline develop. These lesions are opaque white and may have a fine, granular texture.
    • In some instances, the lesions progress to thickened, white lesions, showing induration, fissuring, and ulcer formation.
  • Clinically, OL falls into 1 of 2 main groups.
    • The most common are uniformly white plaques (homogenous OL) prevalent in the buccal mucosa, which usually have low premalignant potential.
    • Far more serious is speckled or verrucous leukoplakia, which has a stronger malignant potential than homogenous leukoplakia. Speckled leukoplakia consists of white flecks or fine nodules on an atrophic erythematous base. These lesions can be regarded as a combination of or a transition between leukoplakia and erythroplasia, which is flat or depressed below the level of the surrounding mucosal red patch, is uncommon in the mouth, and carries the highest risk of malignant transformation.
  • Five clinical criteria demonstrate a particularly high risk of malignant change.
    • The verrucous type is considered high risk.
    • Erosion or ulceration within the lesion is highly suggestive of malignancy.
    • The presence of a nodule indicates malignant potential.
    • A lesion that is hard in its periphery is predictive of malignant change.
    • OL of the anterior floor of the mouth and undersurface of the tongue is strongly associated with malignant potential.
  • In all cases, the relative risk of malignant potential is determined by the presence of epithelial dysplasia upon histological examination.

Causes

  • In persons who smoke, the combustion end-products brought about by burning tobacco and heat (eg, tobacco tars and resins) are irritating substances capable of producing leukoplakic alterations of the oral mucosa. Years of heavy pipe, cigar, and cigarette smoking can lead to a characteristic type of benign keratosis in the hard palate, called stomatitis nicotina. Many investigators regard this lesion as simply an anatomic variant of leukoplakia. Numerous red dots due to the inflamed and dilated orifices of salivary gland ducts are apparent throughout the whitened palatal mucosa. Later, the mucosa becomes pale because of a slight increase in keratinization. In advanced cases, the palatal tissue is keratinized more heavily, and nodules appear that are related to hyperplasia of the underlying glands, retention of saliva, and fibrosis.
  • The use of alcohol has been suggested as a possible etiology because alcohol may irritate the mucosa. Persons who habitually consume considerable quantities of alcohol usually also smoke inveterately; therefore, establishing the effects of alcohol alone is difficult.
  • Malocclusion; chronic cheek biting; ill-fitting dentures; and sharp, broken-down teeth that constantly irritate the mucosa are considered extremely important in the etiology of OL.
  • Patients who have had syphilitic glossitis have a higher prevalence of OL than individuals with a nonsyphilitic background.
  • The presence of Candida albicans, a relatively common oral fungus, has been reported to be very frequently associated with OL.
  • Deficiency of vitamins A and B has been suggested as an inciting factor in the development of OL.

More on Oral Leukoplakia, Idiopathic

Overview: Oral Leukoplakia, Idiopathic
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Oral Leukoplakia, Idiopathic
Treatment & Medication: Oral Leukoplakia, Idiopathic
Follow-up: Oral Leukoplakia, Idiopathic
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

oral leukoplakia, OL, focal keratosis, hyperkeratosis, mouth cancer, leukoplakia, oral plaque, mouth plaque, idiopathic leukoplakia, idiopathic oral leukoplakia, premalignant oral lesion, premalignant mouth lesion, precancerous lesion, speckled leukoplakia, verrucous leukoplakia, homogenous leukoplakia, speckled OL, verrucous OL, homogenous OL

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Nikos Soukos, DDS, PhD, Director of the Applied Molecular Photomedicine Laboratory, Assistant Member of the Staff, The Forsyth Institute, Clinical Collaborative, Massachusetts General Hospital
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

David J Terris, MD, FACS, Porubsky Professor and Chairman, Department of Otolaryngology, Medical College of Georgia
David J Terris, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Bronchoesophagological Association, American College of Surgeons, American Head and Neck Society, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, International Association of Endocrine Surgeons, Phi Beta Kappa, Radiation Research Society, Society of University Otolaryngologists-Head and Neck Surgeons, and Triological Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Nader Sadeghi, MD, FRCS(C), Associate Professor of Surgery, Director of Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology, George Washington University
Nader Sadeghi, MD, FRCS(C) is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Head and Neck Society, Federation of Medical Specialists in Quebec, and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Christopher L Slack, MD, Otolaryngology-Facial Plastic Surgery, Private Practice, Associated Coastal ENT; Medical Director, Treasure Coast Sleep Disorders
Christopher L Slack, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and American Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA, Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine
Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and American Head and Neck Society
Disclosure: Advanced Headache Intervention Consulting fee Consulting; Covidien Corp Consulting fee Consulting

 
 
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