Oral leukoplakia has the potential for malignant change and it may frequently require histological analysis and a period of regular clinical observation. The majority of oral leukoplakia remains constant but there is a subset that progress to carcinoma. The authors discuss Proliferative Verrucous Leukoplakia (PVL) that is unique in that it is progressive variant. It is suggested that identifying this form is by repetitive clinical and histological observation. The difficulty in early diagnosis is mainly due to the overlapping clinical and pathologic features with conventional leukoplakia with dysplasia. PVL is rare but aggressive and can present in any of its four clinical progressives states: early focal; geographic expansion; verrucous appearance; and malignant change. It also has no risk factors identified. This is a good paper that discusses the problem of oral leukoplakia and devotes a section to the differential diagnosis of leukoplakia that includes lichen planus.
Proliferative Verrucous Leukoplakia; which one is this one?
Reviewed by Sunil Kumar Bhatia
Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia: recognition and differentiation from conventional leukoplakia and mimics.
