Leukoplakia is a condition when white patches (lesions) form inside the mouth. The patches are painless and can develop on the surface or underneath the tongue, or on the insides of the cheeks. It occurs most often in men between the ages of 50 and 70.(1)
Idiopathic leukoplakia means there is no known cause. Often leukoplakia is associated with the following:
- Heavy smoking;
- Use of chewing tobacco or snuff;
- Heavy use of alcohol.(1)
Since leukoplakia patches do not cause pain or other symptoms, they are often noticed by a doctor or dentist during a routine examination.(1) “Most leukoplakia patches are noncancerous (benign), though some show early signs of cancer.” To test for cancer, a physician may perform an oral brush biopsy, where cells from the lesion are removed with a small, spinning brush, or an excisional biopsy, removing tissue from the patch.(2)
Treatment is most effective when leukoplakia is diagnosed early. Removing the source of irritation, which could be chewing tobacco, smoking or excessive alcohol use, often resolves the issue.(3)
Cryotherapy is considered an advancement in treatment of oral disease, such as leukoplakia, because there is no need for anesthesia, no incision, no bleeding and minimal scarring.(4)
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(1) Cleveland Clinic, Leukoplakia, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/
(2) Mayo Clinic, Leukoplakia, https://www.mayoclinic.org/
(3) Christiansen, S., Ibraheem, S. DDS (reviewer), verywellhealth, An Overview of Leukoplakia, https://www.verywellhealth.com/
(4) S. Bozkaya, Koklu, H., Ugar, D., et. al., European Journal of Inflammation, Simple and Effective Cryosurgical Treatment of Various Oral Lesions, https://www.verywellhealth.com/