title: Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia: diagnosis, management and current advances.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia is a multifocal and progressive lesion of the oral mucosa, with unknown etiology, and commonly resistant to all therapy attempts with frequent recurrences. It is characterized by a high rate of oral squamous cell carcinoma and verrucou carcinoma transformations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the studies about Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia and develop a concise update.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Pubmed search identifying studies (laboratory research, case series and reviews of literature) that examined patients with Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia was realized.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There are not enough studies about Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia in the literature. The few found studies not present a consensus about its etiology and diagnosis criteria. Although several treatment strategies have been proposed, most of them still show a high recurrence rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More research about Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia is necessary to understand and treat this disease.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Programa de Pós-graduação em Odontologia, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Diogo Lenzi
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Capella
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Programa de Pós-graduação em Odontologia, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jussara Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Programa de Pós-graduação em Odontologia, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adelino António Artur
authors.initials: AAA
authors.lastname: Abrantes
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Departamento de Patologia, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Liliane Janete
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Grando
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Departamento de Patologia, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil. Electronic address: filipe.daniel@ufsc.br.
authors.forename: Filipe Ivan
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Daniel
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male
keywords: Carcinoma, Célula escamosa; Câncer de cabeça e pescoço; Câncer oral; Head and neck cancer; Leucoplasia; Leucoplasia oral; Leucoplasia verrucosa proliferativa; Leukoplakia; Leukoplakia oral; Oral cancer; Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia; Squamous cell carcinoma