Clinical features and presentation of oral potentially malignant disorders.

Authors :: Warnakulasuriya S
Source :: Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology and oral radiology [Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol] 2018 Jun; Vol. 125 (6), pp. 582-590. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Apr 04.
Publication Year :: 2018
Abstract: Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) are conditions that precede the onset of invasive cancers of the oral cavity. The term embraces precancerous lesions and conditions referred to in earlier World Health Organization (WHO) definitions. Leukoplakia is the most common OPMD; erythroplakia, although rare, is more serious. Several variants of leukoplakia are recognized, and clinical subtyping may help determine the prognosis to a limited extent. Biopsy is essential to confirm the provisional clinical diagnosis, and timely referral to a specialist is indicated. Certain OPMDs, such as oral submucous fibrosis, are encountered particularly in population groups from Asia with specific lifestyle habits. This review provides clinical descriptions of the wide range of potentially malignant disorders encountered in the oral cavity as a prelude to the topics discussed in this focus issue.<br /> (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)