[Scanning electron microscopy of oral leukoplakia]

Buccal mucosa of six patients with leukoplakia and normal controls was examined by scanning electron microscopy. Findings have shown that: 1. there is a difference between the surface epithelial cells of the normal mucosa and those of the mucosa with leukoplakia; 2. according to the various clinical forms of the leukoplakia there are differences between the epithelial cells: in leukoplakia verrucosa presence of keratinized epithelial cells, in leukoplakia erosiva absence of the cell-connecting structures seems to be a characteristic feature; 3. in leukoplakia erosiva with dysplasia atypical arrangement of the cytoplasmic processes of surface epithelial cells can be observed; 4. the most striking difference was revealed between the cells of the normal mucosa and those of leukoplakia erosiva.