title: Hospital-based epidemiological and clinical characterisation of the malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia in a Chinese population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this review was to analyse, systematically, hospital-based epidemiological information concerning the malignant transformation rate (MTR) of oral leukoplakia (OL) in a Chinese population, as well as the associated risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four electronic databases were searched for studies dealing with OL and related risk factors, including age, gender, type of lesion, site, and smoking and drinking habits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MTR of OL in the hospital-based Chinese population ranged from 4% to 13%, based on the studies analysed. Regarding risk factors, we found that female patients had a higher MTR than male patients, and that patients older than 50 years of age also had a higher MTR. Patients who smoked had a lower MTR, while alcohol consumption seemed to have no association with MTR. Malignant transformation occurred most commonly on the tongue. Regarding lesion type, non-homogeneous OL had a higher MTR, with the granular type having the highest MTR. Our results regarding the epidemiology of OL showed a similar trend to those reported in western populations and provided preliminary epidemiological information on the Chinese population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings show that female gender, age >50 years and non-homogeneous OL are risk factors for malignant transformation. It is important to develop clinical strategies to educate, diagnose and treat patients with OL and to minimise the MTR of OL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Implantology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, National Engineer Laboratory for Digital and Material Technology of Stomatology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ming-Yue
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lyu
authors.affiliation: Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, National Engineer Laboratory for Digital and Material Technology of Stomatology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Si
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, National Engineer Laboratory for Digital and Material Technology of Stomatology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Shuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, National Engineer Laboratory for Digital and Material Technology of Stomatology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, National Engineer Laboratory for Digital and Material Technology of Stomatology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hua
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
keywords: Chinese population; Oral leukoplakia; malignant transformation; risk factor