Risk Assessment for Malignant Transformation in Patients with Oral Proliferative Leukoplakia: A 10-Year Retrospective...

Area of Science:

• Oral Medicine
• Oncology
• Oral Pathology

Background:

• Oral proliferative leukoplakia (OPL) is a potentially malignant disorder.
• Identifying risk factors for malignant transformation (MT) is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the malignant transformation (MT) risk profile in patients with oral proliferative leukoplakia (OPL).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 51 OPL patients' medical records (Jan 2014 - June 2024).
• Collected demographic, clinical, histopathological data, and treatment strategies.
• Analyzed data for associations with MT.

Main Results:

• MT occurred in 17.6% of patients over a mean follow-up of 4.78 years.
• Higher dysplasia grades (p=0.009) and non-homogeneous lesion forms (speckled) were significantly associated with MT.
• Lesion location (tongue, floor of mouth) and specific histological features (verrucous, nodular architecture, band-like lymphocytic infiltrate) were more common in MT cases.

Conclusions:

• Clinical morphology, lesion site, and histological grading are key predictors of MT in OPL.
• Non-homogeneous lesions, higher dysplasia, and prior cancer history suggest a more aggressive disease course.
• Individualized risk assessment and long-term surveillance are recommended for OPL patients.