9th July 2023

Leukoplakia

Leukoplakia refers to white-grey patches or plaques on the oral mucosa which are not characterised as any specific disease. Once a cause is established, this can be due to a variety of conditions, including candidiasis, lichen planus, and SCC. It is strongly associated with smoking and alcohol intake. Biopsy is often required to exclude SCC in-situ which can progress to invasive SCC if not treated. Therefore, depending on the cause, leukoplakia can be considered premalignant.