Leukoplakia

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Leukoplakia

Alternative Names:

Hairy leukoplakia; Smoker's keratosis

Treatment:

The goal of treatment is to eliminate the lesion. Removal of the source of irritation is important and may lead to disappearance of the lesion.

Dental causes such as rough teeth, irregular denture surface, or fillings should be treated as soon as possible.
Smoking or other tobacco use should be stopped.

Surgical removal of the lesion may be necessary. The lesion is usually removed in your health care provider's office with the use of local anesthesia.

Some research has shown that vitamin A or vitamin E may shrink lesions, but this should only be administered with close supervision by a health care provider.

Treatment of leukoplakia on the vulva is the same as treatment of oral lesions.

Expectations (prognosis):

Leukoplakia is usually harmless, and lesions usually clear in a few weeks or months after the source of irritation is removed. Approximately 3% of leukoplakia lesions develop cancerous changes.

Hairy leukoplakia is often a sign of HIV infection and an increased likelihood of developing AIDS.

Complications:

Chronic discomfort
Infection of the lesion
Oral cancer

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you have any lesions resembling leukoplakia or hairy leukoplakia.

Review Date: 8/16/2004
Reviewed By: Stephen Grund, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of Hematology & Oncology and Director of the George Bray Cancer Center at New Britain General Hospital, New Britain, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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