title: Precancerous and cancerous lesions of the oral cavity.
abstract: The purpose of this article is to provide the clinician with the clinicopathologic characteristics of oral cancer and its precursors. As can be seen by the previous discussion, numerous variables influence the formation of these lesions, and as yet we are unable to predict the progression of any single, premalignant lesion with certainty. Because of this, only astute clinicians, armed with a healthy level of suspicion, will be able to affect the prognosis of oral malignancies by recognizing these conditions at the earliest possible stage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery, Medicine, and Pathology, Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis, USA.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Summerlin
mesh_terms: D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000473:pathology; D018289:Carcinoma, Verrucous / Q000473:pathology; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D007642:Keratosis / Q000473:pathology; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology*