A clinicopathologic and epidemiologic study of chronic white lesions in the oral mucosa

Invasive oral squamous cell carcinoma is often preceded by the presence of clinically identifiable premalignant changes of the oral mucosa, including white lesions. We conducted a cross-sectional, observational study to assess the clinicopathologic and epidemiologic aspects of chronic oral mucosal white lesions to determine the necessity of early biopsy in these cases. Our study population was made up of 77 patients-50 males and 27 females, aged 15 to 70 years (mean: 42.9)-who presented with white lesions persisting for at least 4 weeks. All but 3 patients underwent a biopsy; the 3 exceptions were diagnosed with smear-proven candidiasis. Patients with moderate or severe dysplasia underwent an excision biopsy. The buccal mucosa was the single most common site of white lesions, occurring in 15 patients (19.5%), although 21 patients (27.3%) exhibited a diffuse involvement of the oral mucosa. Of the 77 patients, 59 (76.6%) had concerning findings: premalignant lesions in 45 patients (58.4%) and malignant lesions in 14 (18.2%). Also, dysplasia was seen in 8 patients (10.4%), all of whom had premalignant lesions. Tobacco chewing (p = 0.008) and betel quid chewing (p = 0.029) were significantly associated with the development of premalignant and malignant lesions; a longer duration of tobacco chewing (≥10 yr) was significantly associated with a higher risk of malignant but not premalignant lesions (p = 0.031). Finally, illiteracy was a significant risk factor for premalignant and malignant lesions (p = 0.03). Our findings support the necessity of biopsy in every case. Early detection of oral carcinoma by biopsy of all oral white lesions would not only prevent patients from undergoing disfiguring surgery and chemoradiation, but it also would increase the 5-year survival rate.