Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Case Reports
. 2017 Nov-Dec;21(6):499-502.
doi: 10.4103/jisp.jisp_189_17.

Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia misdiagnosed as oral leukoplakia

Rajesh Kumar Gupta  1 , Nidhi Rani  2 , Bharat Joshi  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia misdiagnosed as oral leukoplakia

Rajesh Kumar Gupta et al. J Indian Soc Periodontol. 2017 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Correct diagnosis of white lesions of the oral cavity is sometimes difficult, because some oral white lesions behave differently and tend to change their appearance with time. Clinicians often wrongly diagnose such lesions as oral leukoplakias and treat simply. Lesions recur and turn malignant. Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (PVL) is a distinct form of oral leukoplakia characterized by a high recurrence rate and high rate of transformation into oral squamous cell carcinoma. We present herein a case of PVL which was misdiagnosed as oral leukoplakia and progressed to oral carcinoma.

Keywords: Malignant; multifactorial; multifocal; proliferative verrucous leukoplakia; squamous cell carcinoma.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Irregular keratotic growth involving gingiva and alveolar mucosa [anterior extension of growth]
Figure 2
Figure 2
Irregular keratotic growth involving gingiva and alveolar mucosa [Posterior extension of growth]
Figure 3
Figure 3
Recurrence of the lesion over marginal gingiva of the mandibular left first and second premolars
Figure 4
Figure 4
New recurrence in relation to teeth number 32 and 33
Figure 5
Figure 5
Panoramic radiographic view revealing no loss of bone in the regions of 32 and 33
Figure 6
Figure 6
Excision of the lesion
Figure 7
Figure 7
(a) Histopathological section showing increased mitotic figures (×40); (b) presence of keratin pearls; (c) increased nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio, cellular pleomorphism, loss of cohesiveness, and hyperchromatic nuclei
Figure 8
Figure 8
The periodic acid–Schiff-stained section confirms the breach in continuity of basement membrane
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Warnakulasuriya S, Johnson NW, van der Waal I. Nomenclature and classification of potentially malignant disorders of the oral mucosa. J Oral Pathol Med. 2007;36:575–80. - PubMed
    1. Hansen LS, Olson JA, Silverman S., Jr Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia. A long-term study of thirty patients. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1985;60:285–98. - PubMed
    1. Salati NA. Clinic-pathologic evaluation and medical treatment of oral leukoplakia. Int J Pharm Sci Invent. 2014;3:7–12.
    1. Seoane J, Varela-Centelles PI, Walsh TF, Lopez-Cedrun JL, Vazquez I. Gingival squamous cell carcinoma: Diagnostic delay or rapid invasion? J Periodontol. 2006;77:1229–33. - PubMed
    1. Gandolfo S, Castellani R, Pentenero M. Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia: A potentially malignant disorder involving periodontal sites. J Periodontol. 2009;80:274–81. - PubMed

Publication types