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. 2018 Jan 1;23(1):e59-e64.
doi: 10.4317/medoral.22292.

A clinical diagnosis of oral leukoplakia; A guide for dentists

V-C Carrard  1 , I van der Waal
Affiliations

A clinical diagnosis of oral leukoplakia; A guide for dentists

V-C Carrard et al. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. .

Abstract

Background: In view of the many white or predominantly white lesions of the oral mucosa it is a challenge for dentists to clinically identify a leukoplakia, being a potentially (pre)malignant lesion.

Material and methods: Based on the available literature and experience of the authors the parameters of a clinical diagnosis of oral leukoplakia have been studied.

Results: A guide has been presented that should help dentists to establish a clinical diagnosis of leukoplakia as accurate as possible.

Conclusions: Probably in most parts of the world dentists will need the help of a specialist for confirmation or exclusion of the clinical diagnosis of oral leukoplakia and for further management of the patient, including patient information.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement: None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
White lesion at the dorsum of the tongue that clinically qualifies for leukoplakia, plaque type lichen planus and perhaps also for hyperplastic candidiasis (a); only because of the simultaneous presence of lichen planus lesions elsewhere in the oral cavity there is a strong preference to diagnose the lingual lesion as plaque type lichen planus (b and c).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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