Oral leukoplakia: Management protocol for primary health-care providers and family physicians

Abstract

Oral cancer is very common in India. Most of the oral cancers develop on a potentially malignant (precancerous) lesion. Leukoplakia is the most common precancerous lesion in the oral cavity. The malignant transformation rate of oral leukoplakia is very high. There is no marker to distinguish those lesions that may transform to frank cancer from those that may not. Thus, early identification of oral leukoplakia and its proper treatment is important for best prognosis. This article highlights on the diagnosis and treatment protocol for oral leukoplakia.

Keywords

• family physicians
• management protocol
• oral cancer
• oral leukoplakia
• primary health-care providers