Find information on thousands of medical conditions and prescription drugs.

Leukoplakia

Leukoplakia is a common condition (<1%) of the mouth that involves the formation of white leathery spots on the mucous membranes of the tongue and inside of the mouth. It is not a specific disease entity and is diagnosed by exclusion of diseases that may cause similar white lesions like candidiasis or lichen planus. more...

Home
Diseases
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
Amyotrophic lateral...
Bardet-Biedl syndrome
Labyrinthitis
Lafora disease
Landau-Kleffner syndrome
Langer-Giedion syndrome
Laryngeal papillomatosis
Laryngomalacia
Lassa fever
LCHAD deficiency
Leber optic atrophy
Ledderhose disease
Legg-Calvé-Perthes syndrome
Legionellosis
Legionnaire's disease
Leiomyoma
Leiomyosarcoma
Leishmaniasis
Lemierre's syndrome
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
Leprechaunism
Leprophobia
Leprosy
Leptospirosis
Lesch-Nyhan syndrome
Leukemia
Leukocyte adhesion...
Leukodystrophy
Leukomalacia
Leukoplakia
LGS
Li-Fraumeni syndrome
Lichen planus
Ligyrophobia
Limb-girdle muscular...
Limnophobia
Linonophobia
Lipodystrophy
Lipoid congenital adrenal...
Liposarcoma
Lissencephaly
Lissencephaly syndrome...
Listeriosis
Liticaphobia
Liver cirrhosis
Lobster hand
Locked-In syndrome
Loiasis
Long QT Syndrome
Long QT syndrome type 1
Long QT syndrome type 2
Long QT syndrome type 3
LSA
Lung cancer
Lupus erythematosus
Lyell's syndrome
Lygophobia
Lyme disease
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis
Lymphedema
Lymphoma
Lymphosarcoma
Lysinuric protein...
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Medicines

Leukoplakia is common in adults, mostly in the 50-70 years age group. The cause in most cases is unknown, but many are related to tobacco use and chronic irritation. A small proportion of cases, particularly those involving the floor of the mouth or the undersurface of the tongue is associated with a risk of cancer.

The so-called hairy leukoplakia associated with HIV infection and other diseases of severe immune deficiency does not have risks for cancer.

The treatment of leukoplakia mainly involves avoidance of predisposing factors like smoking, tobacco and betel chewing, alcohol,and removal of chronic irritants like sharp edges of teeth. In suspicious cases, a biopsy is also taken, and surgical excision done if pre-cancerous changes or frank cancer is detected.


Read more at Wikipedia.org


[List your site here Free!]


Caution on beta-carotene - high doses of beta-carotene given to smokers with oral leukoplakia may cause increased risk of lung cancer
From Nutrition Research Newsletter, 1/1/97

[Beta]-Carotene and other antioxidant nutrients have been used with some success in the treatment of oral leukoplakia--a precancerous condition in the mouth which may progress to oral cancer. A letter to the journal Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, & Endodontics cautions, however, that it may not be wise to give high doses of [Beta]-carotene to patients with oral leukoplakia who smoke cigarettes.

The authors, from Dalhousie University, the Medical College of Virginia, and the University of California San Francisco, point out that two recent chemoprevention trials have suggested that the use of large doses of [Beta]-carotene may be associated with an increased risk of lung cancer in smokers. "Despite studies suggesting a role for antioxidant vitamins in the treatment of oral leukoplakia, at this time it seems prudent to avoid prescribing high dose [Beta]-carotene supplements for current and even previous smokers. Early malignant transformation in oral leukoplakia is much easier to detect and treat effectively than is lung cancer."

John GL Lovas, George E Kaugars, and Sol Silverman Jr, Beta-Carotene and Lung Cancer? [Letter] Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, & Endodontics $263): 236-237 (Sept 1996)

COPYRIGHT 1997 Frost & Sullivan
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group

Return to Leukoplakia
Home Contact Resources Exchange Links ebay