title: Oral leukoplakia in a South African sample: a clinicopathological study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study analysed differences in clinicopathological features of oral leukoplakia in different racial groups in the greater Johannesburg area of South Africa, with emphasis on the black population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The retrospective review included cases diagnosed clinically as oral leukoplakia and histologically as hyperkeratosis without dysplasia, hyperkeratosis with mild, moderate or severe dysplasia, and carcinoma in situ from 1990 to 2010. Age, gender, ethnicity, clinical appearance, site of lesion and tobacco smoking habit were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen per cent of oral leukoplakia occurred in black South Africans compared with 80% in white South Africans. In contrast to whites, blacks were diagnosed with oral leukoplakia at a younger age; there were more men affected than women; and the proportion of idiopathic leukoplakia was greater. There were significantly more blacks (23%) than whites (13%) with non-homogenous leukoplakia and significantly more whites (51%) than blacks (23%) with dysplastic oral leukoplakia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that oral leukoplakia, especially non-homogenous and idiopathic forms affects South African blacks less frequently than white South Africans; and in the former, it occurs more in men and at a younger age. These findings may provide some guidance in establishing screening policies for oral cancer, particularly suited for blacks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chandran
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meer
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D014504:Urban Health / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult