title: Prevalence study of oral white lesions with special reference to a new definition of oral leucoplakia.
abstract: In this survey, the experiences with and implications of a revised definition of oral leucoplakia are described. One of the new aspects of the revised definition is the distinction between a provisional, clinical diagnosis and a definitive one for which histopathological examination is required. A prevalence study of white lesions of the oral mucosa among a selected population of 1000 consecutive patients from the Netherlands showed a prevalence of a provisional and definitive diagnosis of oral leucoplakia of 0.6 and 0.2%, respectively. For uniform reporting, a recently proposed classification and staging system has been used to stage leucoplakias with a definitive diagnosis. The use of the revised definition of oral leucoplakia, as well as the classification and staging system, seem very suitable for epidemiological studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Pathology, Free University Hospital/Academic Centre for Dentistry, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Schepman
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: van der Meij
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Smeele
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: van der Waal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects