Potentially malignant oral lesions: clinicopathological correlations

Area of Science:

• Oral pathology
• Oncology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Potentially malignant oral lesions (PMOLs) pose a significant risk for oral cancer.
• Accurate clinical and pathological assessment is vital for effective management.
• Understanding risk factors aids in early detection and prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of PMOLs.
• To evaluate and correlate clinical and pathological aspects of PMOLs.
• To identify associations between PMOLs and risk factors like smoking and sun exposure.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 340 patients diagnosed with oral leukoplakia, erythroplakia, erythroleukoplakia, actinic cheilitis, or oral lichen planus.
• Comparison of clinical diagnoses with histopathological findings.
• Statistical analysis to determine lesion frequency, affected sites, and risk factor associations.

Main Results:

• 106 patients (31.2%) had PMOLs, with actinic cheilitis being the most frequent (37.5%).
• The lower lip was the most affected site (49.6%).
• Associations found between smoking and erythroplakia/leukoplakia, and sun exposure and actinic cheilitis. Erythroleukoplakia showed the highest malignancy grade.

Conclusions:

• Clinical and histopathological diagnoses were largely compatible.
• Smoking and sun exposure are significant risk factors for specific PMOLs.
• Dental surgeons must prioritize accurate diagnosis and management of PMOLs to prevent malignant transformation.