title: Leukoplakia-A Diagnostic and Management Algorithm.
abstract: Oral white lesions are frequently encountered in daily practice. Most white lesions are benign (eg, reactive keratoses or keratoses from inflammatory conditions) and the diagnosis is usually evident from the clinical presentation and histopathology. Leukoplakia is a common condition characterized by an increased risk for malignant transformation. Histopathology of leukoplakia can disclose hyperkeratosis with dysplasia or carcinoma or hyperkeratosis or parakeratosis without dysplasia. Treatment depends on demographic, social, clinical, and histopathologic factors. This review focuses on the diagnosis and management of oral leukoplakia.
authors.affiliation: Associate Surgeon, Division of Oral Medicine and Dentistry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston; Instructor, Department of Oral Medicine, Infection and Immunity, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA. Electronic address: avilla@partners.org.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.affiliation: Associate Surgeon, Division of Oral Medicine and Dentistry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston; Associate Professor, Department of Oral Medicine, Infection and Immunity, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Sook Bin
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Woo
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions