A CASE REPORT ON ORAL LEUKOPLAKIA WITH MODERATE DYSPLASIA, & ITS MANAGEMENT

Abstract

The term Leukoplakia is a clinical diagnostic entity which means white patch. It was used by
a Hungarian dermatologist, ErnoSchwimmer, in 1877. Oral leukoplakia is a potentially
malignant, non-scrapable, well demarcated, keratotic, white lesion of the oral mucosa which
may show a cracked-mud appearance or proliferative & verrucous surface texture. It
generally remains asymptomatic & has been found to be associated with tobacco usage or
idiopathic in nature in some cases& has a higher male predilection 1 2
. Carcinogens such as
tobacco may induce hyper keratinization, with the potential to revert following cessation,but
at somestage, mutations will lead to an unrestrained proliferation and cell division.Activation
of oncogenes and deletion and injuries to suppressor genes and genes responsible for
DNArepair will all contribute to a defective functioning of thegenome that governs cell
division. The diagnosis should be limited exclusively to the clinical context by the
exclusionof other white lesions (chronic cheek-bite, frictional keratosis, tobacco-induced
keratosis, nicotine stomatitis, leukoedema and white sponge nevus), which present as
plaques, & are related differential diagnostic terms.