What is speckled leukoplakia?

A white flecked or finely nodular lesion over an atrophic erythematous base that may be seen in a background of erythroplasia which is flat or depressed below the surrounding mucosa. This finding is uncommon in the mouth, and carries a risk of malignant transformation.

Is speckled leukoplakia a cancer?

Erythroplakia and speckled leukoplakia are oral precancerous lesions that have a high potential for malignant transformation.

What does speckled leukoplakia look like?

In some cases, leukoplakic lesions may appear “speckled,” meaning that they have both red and white areas (Figure 3). These speckled leukoplakias are also referred to as erythroleukoplakias, and they often show dysplasia or invasive cancer on biopsy.

What percentage of leukoplakia is cancer?

Leukoplakia is different from other causes of white patches such as thrush or lichen planus because it can eventually develop into oral cancer. Within 15 years, about 3% to 17.5% of people with leukoplakia will develop squamous cell carcinoma, a common type of skin cancer.

Should I be worried about leukoplakia?

Outlook (Prognosis) 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.

Case presentation: Speckled Leukoplakia

What is the best treatment for leukoplakia?

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.

Can leukoplakia turn into lung cancer?

Most cases of leukoplakia do not turn into cancer. But some leukoplakias are either cancer when first found or have pre-cancer changes that can turn into cancer if not properly treated.

Can you survive leukoplakia?

Individuals with leukoplakia have substantially elevated risk of OCC. Lower stage and better survival after OCC diagnosis suggest that leukoplakia identification can lead to earlier OCC detection and reduced mortality.

Should leukoplakia be biopsied?

All oral leukoplakias must be biopsied because many cases are already precancerous/dysplastic or cancerous at the time they are biopsied.

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 are the symptoms of leukoplakia?

What does leukoplakia look like in the mouth?

White patches

A white or grayish patch inside your mouth or on your lips is called leukoplakia. An irritant like a rough tooth, broken denture, or tobacco can cause cell overgrowth and produce these patches.

Which type of leukoplakia is malignant?

Oral leukoplakia is one of the most common potentially malignant disorders.

Which leukoplakia has highest malignant potential?

Oral leukoplakia is the most common potentially malignant lesion of the oral cavity, it is estimated that the overall prevalence is 1.72-2.60% (1). It is defined as “a white plate of questionable risk, having excluded (other) known diseases or disorders that do not increase the risk of cancer” (2).

Can acid reflux cause leukoplakia?

Discussion: The etiology of esophageal leukoplakia is unknown but is thought to be due to chronic irritation from acid reflux in the setting of alcohol and tobacco use, as was seen in this case. The highly characteristic endoscopic appearance should alert the endoscopist to the diagnosis.

How fast does leukoplakia grow?

PVL grows slowly and can take up to 7.8 years to become cancerous. The process is irreversible and usually progresses to cancer.

Is leukoplakia precancerous?

The most common precancerous conditions of the mouth are leukoplakia and erythroplakia.

Will leukoplakia go away if you stop smoking?

Leukoplakia decreases gradually and completely disappears within 8-12 months of smoking cessation [12]. Tobacco use is the main reason for development of both diseases. Smoking and alcohol consumption increases the risk of cancer in 80% of the population.

What do the early stages of mouth cancer look like?

Early stages of mouth cancer may look like: Sore in the mouth that doesn't heal (the most common symptom) White or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsils, or lining of the mouth. Loose teeth.

Where does mouth cancer usually start?

Mouth cancers most commonly begin in the flat, thin cells (squamous cells) that line your lips and the inside of your mouth. Most oral cancers are squamous cell carcinomas.

What were your first symptoms of oral cancer?

What aggravates leukoplakia?

Long-term use of tobacco (smoking or chewing) or other irritants are the most common cause of leukoplakia, other causes may include: Dentures that do not fit correctly (or broken dentures) An injury that occurs on the inside of the cheek (such as from accidentally biting the cheek)

Can leukoplakia be transmitted?

Leukoplakia, a condition in which thick white lesions develop inside the mouth, isn't contagious. However, one form of the condition, called hairy leukoplakia, is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, which is contagious. As for regular leukoplakia, the biggest culprit seems to be smoking and chewing tobacco.

Can leukoplakia affect your throat?

Leukoplakia is a descriptive term which means “white plaque”. Leukplakia may be present in the mouth, throat or on the vocal folds. Leukoplakia may cause symptoms such as hoarseness, or may be found incidentally during an examination.