title: Malignant transformation of oral epithelial dysplasia: a real-world evaluation of histopathologic grading.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study describes the predictive value of oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) grading as an indicator for malignant transformation and progression.
  
  
  METHODS
  The records of an Australian-based pathology laboratory were searched for oral mucosal biopsies with a dysplastic or malignant diagnosis. Examination for an association with progression and malignant transformation without reinterpretation was performed. Analysis was undertaken using hazard ratios and the Fisher exact test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 368 patients with a diagnosis of OED were included. Twenty-six patients (7.1%) underwent progression or malignant transformation; the annual malignant transformation rate was 1%. No other characteristics were associated with a heightened risk of progression or transformation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The severity of OED was not associated with risk of malignant transformation, suggesting that the current OED grading system is not useful for predicting patient outcomes or for determining management strategies. Definitive treatment of all OED is recommended, until a more reliable progression/transformation system is developed.
authors.affiliation: University of Queensland, UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Herston, Australia; University of Queensland, School of Dentistry, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dost
authors.affiliation: University of Queensland, Queensland Facility for Advanced Bioinformatics, St Lucia, Australia.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lê Cao
authors.affiliation: University of Queensland, School of Dentistry, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.affiliation: Queensland Medical Laboratories, Murarrie, Australia.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ades
authors.affiliation: University of Queensland, UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Herston, Australia; University of Queensland, School of Dentistry, Brisbane, Australia. Electronic address: c.farah@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Farah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies