[Histopathology of oral precanceroses]

The nomenclature used by gynaecopathologists for precancerosis of the cervix mucosa can be used equally for the oral mucosa. Cancer usually does not develop suddenly from a normal epithelium, but through an epithelial dysplasia into a non invasive, intraepithelial carcinoma. This process of cancerization probably lasts several years. Leukoplakia must not be generally regarded as precancerosis. The criterion is the degree of epithelial dysplasia and not the accompanying acanthosis, dyskeratosis, hyper- or parakeratosis. Light and medium severe epithelial dysplasia are regarded as facultative, severe epithelial dysplasia and carcinoma in situ as true precancerosis. The cytological examination should be used more frequently as a screening method.