leukoplakia

leukoplakia /leu·ko·pla·kia/ (-pla´ke-ah)

1. a white patch on a mucous membrane that will not rub off.

2. oral l.

---

atrophic leukoplakia  lichen sclerosus in females.

oral leukoplakia  white, thick patches on the oral mucosa due to hyperkeratosis of the epithelium, producing favorable conditions for development of epidermoid carcinoma; often occurring on the cheeks (l. bucca´lis), gums, or tongue (l. lingua´lis) .

oral hairy leukoplakia  a white filiform to flat patch on the tongue or the buccal mucosa, caused by infection with Epstein-Barr virus and associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

leukoplakia vul´vae 

1. lichen sclerosus in females.

2. any white-appearing lesion of the vulva.

---

leu·ko·pla·ki·a (lk-plk-)

n.

A condition characterized by white spots or patches on mucous membranes, especially of the mouth and vulva. Also called leukoplasia, smoker's patch, smoker's tongue.

---

leukoplakia

[lo̅o̅′kōplā′kē·ə]

Etymology: Gk, leukos + plakos, plate

a precancerous, slowly developing change in a mucous membrane characterized by thickened, white, firmly attached patches that are slightly raised and sharply circumscribed. They may occur on the penis or vulva. Those appearing on the lips and buccal mucosa are associated with pipe smoking. Malignant potential is evaluated by microscopic study of biopsied tissue. Compare lichen planus. See also lichen sclerosis et atrophicus.

---

leukoplakia (lōō·kō·plaˑ·kē·),

n plaque like white lesion that develops in the oral mucosa. Typically a sign of bodily irritation in response to cigarette smoke or tobacco chewing. In 10% of cases, these lesions are considered precancerous.

Leukoplakia.

---

leukoplakia (loo´kōplā´kē),

n a white plaque formed on the oral mucosa from surface epithelial cells with an unknown etiology. It is leathery, opaque, and somewhat thickened. Excluded from this are the white lesions of lichen planus, white sponge nevus, burns, thrush, and other clinically recognizable entities. Histologically, hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, and subepithelial and perivascular infiltrate of round cells may be seen. Dyskeratosis may be present. These lesions may progress to malignancy, with cellular atypicism, dyskeratosis, epithelial pearl formation, and infiltration of malignant cells into connective tissue. See also dyskeratosis; hyperkeratosis.

Leukoplakia.

leukoplakia, hairy,

n a white lesion appearing on the lateral surface of the tongue and occasionally on the buccal mucosa of patients with AIDS. The lesion appears raised, with a corrugated or “hairy” surface as a result of keratin projections.

---

leukoplakia

A potentially precancerous white patch or plaque on a mucosa characterized by epithelial hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis, often caused by chronic irritation; leukoplakia–LP affects the mucosa of oral cavity, upper respiratory tract, vulva, uterine cervix, renal pelvis, urinary bladder; in each site, the significance differs ENT Smoker's keratosis A white plaque or patch on the oral mucosa. See Hairy leukoplakia Ob/Gyn A white plaque or patch on the vaginal mucosa, seen without magnification or acetic acid, and often elevated from surrounding surfaces with a sharp border and Lugol's non-staining Histology Hyperkeratosis, possibly epithelial proliferation. See Speckled leukoplakia.