Contents

SynopsisCodesLook ForDiagnostic PearlsDifferential Diagnosis & PitfallsBest TestsManagement PearlsTherapyReferences

View all Images (22)

Leukoplakia - Oral Mucosal Lesion
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Leukoplakia - Oral Mucosal Lesion

Contributors: Carl Allen DDS, MSD, Sook-Bin Woo MS, DMD, MMSc
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Synopsis

Leukoplakia is a clinical term only and refers to a mucosal white plaque that does not represent any other known clinical or histopathologic entity; it is therefore a clinical diagnosis of exclusion. Frictional keratoses have a specific etiology and are therefore not considered to be leukoplakias. Leukoplakia is a common oral finding that can be a precursor of mucosal squamous cell carcinoma. It is more common in smokers, but that may be because white plaques in smokers tend to be biopsied more frequently. The risk factors for this condition are the same as those for squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant transformation to invasive carcinoma occurs in 6%-18% of patients.

All leukoplakias represent one of the following:
  1. Epithelial dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, or invasive carcinoma
  2. Hyperkeratosis of unknown etiology
In the older literature, the prevalence of dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, or invasive carcinoma (usually squamous cell carcinoma) was 10%-20%. However, more recent data suggest that this may be as high as 40%.

Leukoplakia is most commonly found in middle-aged or elderly men. Leukoplakia in women can also involve the vulva, usually in obese postmenopausal females.

Codes

ICD10CM:
K13.21 – Leukoplakia of oral mucosa, including tongue

SNOMEDCT:
274134003 – Leukoplakia

Look For

Subscription Required

Diagnostic Pearls

Subscription Required

Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls

To perform a comparison, select diagnoses from the classic differential

Subscription Required

Best Tests

Subscription Required

Management Pearls

Subscription Required

Therapy

Subscription Required

References

Subscription Required

Last Updated:04/05/2022
Copyright © 2024 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.
Leukoplakia - Oral Mucosal Lesion
A medical illustration showing key findings of Leukoplakia : Oral white plaque
Clinical image of Leukoplakia - imageId=779107. Click to open in gallery.  caption: 'A sizeable white plaque on the buccal mucosa.'
A sizeable white plaque on the buccal mucosa.
Copyright © 2024 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.