title: Oral hairy leukoplakia: diagnosis and management.
abstract: Oral hairy leukoplakia (HL) is a remarkable lesion associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) found in persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. The clinical and histologic features of HL are characteristic and distinctive. However, none of these features are entirely specific for HL, and we consider that the presence of EBV is required for diagnosis in questionable cases. EBV can be demonstrated by means of electron microscopy, immunocytochemistry, or molecular biologic techniques. Therapy directed toward the HL lesion is sometimes indicated; acyclovir is the current drug of preference in such cases.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Biology, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0512.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Greenspan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Greenspan
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D006801:Humans; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents