Leukoplakia of the oral cavity: Clinical problems and prognostic significance

The authors, on the basis of their personal experience and the most recent data from the literature, have attempted to profile and determine the significance of leukoplakia in the scope of white lesions of the oral cavity. The study highlights how the term "leukoplakia" presently has the obvious clinical definition of "white lesion" but that it does not indicate the real essence of the pathological process which can only be revealed through histological examination. Hyperacantosis, acantosis, dysplasia, carcinoma in situ and even invasive carcinoma can constitute the structural substrate of leukoplakia. Hence biopsy plays an essential role in the diagnostic and therapeutic course of leukoplakia lesions. The macroscopic profile of leukoplakia is also defined in its various forms: homogeneous, verrucous and nonhomogeneous; the problem of their developmental potential is also treated in relation to localization within the oral cavity. The anatomical-clinical picture is also described as well as the significance of two particular forms of leukoplakia: proliferative verrucous leukoplakia and hairy leukoplakia.