Historical perspective and nomenclature of potentially malignant or potentially premalignant oral epithelial lesions with emphasis on leukoplakia; some suggestions for modifications

Publication date: Available online 29 December 2017
Source:Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology
Author(s): Isaäc van der Waal
Of the potentially (pre)maligant oral epithelial lesions leukoplakia is the most common one. A brief overview is presented of the various definitions of leukoplakia that have been used in the past. A proposal has been made to adjust the presently existing definition. Clinically, leukoplakias have been subdivided for decades in homogeneous and non-homogeneous leukoplakias, being further divided in different subtypes. A proposal has been made to slightly rearrange these subtypes. Furthermore, attention has been paid to a number of keratotic lesions that have been reported in the literature.In view of the increasing knowledge on carcinogenesis, including the various genetic aspects, it is expected that this knowledge will be reflected in the definition of oral potentially (pre)malignant lesions in the near future.



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