Retrospective study of the progression of oral premalignant lesions to squamous cell carcinoma: a South Wales experience.
The premalignant potential of leukoplakia is controversial. This study is intended to determine whether chronic oral "white lesions" demonstrated premalignant potential by investigating the population presented to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff between January 1996 and June 2000. Patient demographics are presented. During this period, 510 biopsies were performed on suspicious white lesions and 311 cases of oral cancer were diagnosed. During the same period, 11 of the 311 patients developed malignancy despite initial benign diagnosis. Thirty-four of the 510 biopsies were initially diagnosed as oral lichen planus (OLP), whereas 3 of the previously mentioned 11 were diagnosed as OLP and later developed squamous cell carcinoma. This represents an incidence of detected premalignancy in 3.5% of oral cancer cases. On re-examination of the initial biopsy specimens, these 3 cases met criteria for OLP in some areas, whereas the others appeared hyperkeratotic. These specimens may represent a subtype of premalignant chronic white lesions rather than exemplify the premalignant potential of OLP. Further direction of research will be discussed.
The University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff.
Matthew
M
Bromwich
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology