title: Oral medicine in practice: white patches.
abstract: The seventh article in this series deals with conditions of the oral mucosa which present as white patches. Although the majority of white patches are benign, certain lesions are associated with premalignancy or malignancy. Unfortunately, the presence of any sinister lesion cannot be assessed by clinical appearance and therefore accurate diagnosis (involving biopsy) is mandatory whenever there is uncertainty about the clinical diagnosis of an oral white patch.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Pathology, Glasgow Dental Hospital and School.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Lamey
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000175:diagnosis; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000175:diagnosis; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis