title: Precancerous lesions of oral mucosa.
abstract: Precancerous lesions of oral mucosa, known as potentially malignant disorders in recent years, are consists of a group of diseases, which should be diagnosed in the early stage. Oral leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis, and oral erythroplakia are the most common oral mucosal diseases that have a very high malignant transformation rate. Oral lichen planus is one of the potentially malignant disorders that may be seen in six different subtypes including papular, reticular, plaque-like, atrophic, erosive, and bullous type, clinically. Atrophic and erosive subtypes have the greater increased malignant transformation risk compared to another subtypes. Although there are various etiological studies, the etiology of almost all these diseases is not fully understood. Geographically, etiologic factors may vary. The most frequently reported possible factors are tobacco use, alcohol drinking, chewing of betel quid containing areca nut, and solar rays. Early diagnosis is very important and can be lifesaving, because in late stages, they may be progressed to severe dysplasia and even carcinoma in situ and/or squamous cell carcinoma. For most diseases, treatment results are not satisfactory in spite of miscellaneous therapies. While at the forefront of surgical intervention, topical and systemic treatment alternatives such as corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, and retinoids are widely used.
authors.affiliation: Gurkan Yardimci, Department of Dermatology, Muş State Hospital, 49100 Muş, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gurkan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yardimci
authors.affiliation: Gurkan Yardimci, Department of Dermatology, Muş State Hospital, 49100 Muş, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zekayi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kutlubay
authors.affiliation: Gurkan Yardimci, Department of Dermatology, Muş State Hospital, 49100 Muş, Turkey.
authors.forename: Burhan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Engin
authors.affiliation: Gurkan Yardimci, Department of Dermatology, Muş State Hospital, 49100 Muş, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yalcin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tuzun
keywords: Erythroplakia; Leukoplakia; Lichen planus; Malignant transformation; Oral premalignant lesions; Submucous fibrosis