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Oral Leukoplakia. A Five-Year Follow-Up Study
Andrei-Eduard Serban1, Carmen Nicolae2, Ioanina Parlatescu2
1Doctoral School of "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
Maedica
|February 13, 2024
Summary
Oral leukoplakia (OLK) has a low annual malignant transformation rate of 0.2% over a long follow-up period. Treatment approaches vary due to lesion heterogeneity, emphasizing personalized care and histopathological confirmation.
Area of Science:
- Oral medicine and pathology
- Oncology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Oral leukoplakia (OLK) is a significant oral potentially malignant disorder with variable malignant transformation (MT) rates.
- Current management strategies lack universal agreement, relying on clinician expertise.
- This study retrospectively analyzed 30 OLK patients over five years post-diagnosis.
Discussion:
- The study observed a low annual MT rate of 0.2% over an average follow-up of 119.63 months.
- Outcomes ranged from complete resolution to recurrence and malignant transformation.
- Treatment effectiveness is difficult to ascertain due to lesion heterogeneity and lack of standardized diagnostic methods.
Key Insights:
- Histopathological confirmation for grading epithelial dysplasia is crucial for monitoring malignant transformation.
- Personalized treatment approaches are recommended, considering individual patient needs and clinical context.
- The study highlights the need for standardized diagnostic tools in managing OLK.
Outlook:
- Further research is needed to establish standardized diagnostic and treatment protocols for oral leukoplakia.
- Investigating novel genetic or immunohistochemical markers could improve risk assessment.
- Long-term follow-up studies are essential to refine management strategies and improve patient outcomes.
