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Oral leukoplakia. DermNet NZ dermnetnz.org | Leukoplakia and fatigue integrativehealthconsulti... | Leukoplakia of the Tongue * OTOLARYNGOLOGY HOUSTON ghorayeb.com | Leukoplakia and fatigue jonkaiser.com |
Leukoplakia is adherent white plaques or patches on the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, including the tongue. The clinical appearance is highly variable. Leukoplakia is not a specific disease entity, but is diagnosis of exclusion.[1] It must be distinguished from diseases that may cause similar white lesions, such as candidiasis or lichen planus. It is sometimes described as precancerous.[2] The term "candidal leukoplakia" is sometimes used to describe certain types of oral candidosis.[3]
[edit] Incidence and prevalenceLeukoplakic lesions are found in approximately 3% of the world's population. Like erythroplakia, leukoplakia is usually found in adults between 40 and 70 years of age, with a 2:1 male predominance. [edit] CausesLeukoplakia is primarily caused by the use of tobacco. Other possible etiological agents implicated are HPV , Candida albicans and possibly alcohol. Simultaneously serum levels of patients with leukoplakia were found to be low in Vit A,B-12,C & folic acid,in a study conducted in India. Most result from chronic irritation of mucous membranes by carcinogens.[citation needed] Bloodroot, otherwise known as sanguinaria, is also believed to be associated with leukoplakia.[4] 5% to 25% of leukoplakias are premalignant lesions; wherefore, all leukoplakias should be treated as premalignant lesions by dentists and physicians - they require histologic evaluation or biopsy. Hairy leukoplakia, which is associated with HIV infection and other diseases of severe immune deficiency, is not a premalignant lesion. [edit] TreatmentThe treatment of leukoplakia mainly involves avoidance of predisposing factors — tobacco cessation, smoking, quitting betel chewing, abstinence from alcohol — and avoidance of chronic irritants, e.g., the sharp edges of teeth. A biopsy should be done, and the lesion surgically excised if pre-cancerous changes or cancer is detected. Taking beta-carotene orally seems to induce remission in patients with oral leukoplakia. Further research is needed to confirm these results.[5] [edit] See also[edit] References
[edit] External links
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