Leukoplakia
Pronunciation: loo-koh-PLAY-kee-uh
A predominantly white patch or plaque of the oral mucosa that cannot be characterised as any other definable lesion and carries a risk of malignant transformation.
Full Definition
Leukoplakia is a clinical diagnosis of exclusion, defined by the World Health Organization as a white plaque that cannot be removed by scraping and cannot be attributed to another disease. It is considered a potentially malignant disorder (PMD) of the oral mucosa, with transformation rates varying by site, subtype (homogeneous vs. non-homogeneous), and presence of epithelial dysplasia. Editors must ensure that authors use the term precisely as a clinical descriptor and not as a histopathological diagnosis. The presence or absence of dysplasia on biopsy is a separate finding that should be reported distinctly. Editors should also watch for incorrect hyphenation variants such as 'leuco-plakia'.
Usage
Usage note: Leukoplakia is a clinical, not histopathological, term. Do not conflate with candidiasis, which presents as a removable white film. 'Leukoplakia' and 'leucoplakia' are both encountered; standardize to the form used in the target style guide.
In Context
- "The biopsy site was selected from the non-homogeneous region of the leukoplakia, which showed the highest risk of dysplasia." — Surgical report
- "Editors should not replace 'leukoplakia' with 'white lesion' in clinical documents, as the former carries specific diagnostic implications." — Style guidance note