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White, red, and mixed lesions of oral mucosa: A clinicopathologic approach to diagnosis
Author(s) -
Warnakulasuriya Saman
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
periodontology 2000
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.725
H-Index - 122
eISSN - 1600-0757
pISSN - 0906-6713
DOI - 10.1111/prd.12276
Subject(s) - medicine , pathognomonic , leukoplakia , oral mucosa , dermatology , differential diagnosis , biopsy , white (mutation) , pathology , cancer , disease , biochemistry , chemistry , gene
A wide range of conditions could present as persistent white or red, or mixed white and red patches on the oral mucosa. Discussed here are some common conditions encountered in clinical practice that appear as white or red patches, together with some rare, but clinically significant, conditions. Based on pathognomonic features, major diagnostic criteria are outlined to help with the differential diagnosis, while some require further investigation (eg, biopsy and/or microbiologic or hematologic investigation) to confirm the provisional clinical diagnosis. Two conditions that require special consideration are leukoplakia and erythroplakia, as they have the potential to transform to cancer.