Concomitant leukoplakia in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: There is an ongoing debate on the prevalence of premalignant les ions, in particular leukoplakia, at the time of diagnosis of an oral squamo us cell carcinoma (OSCC). The aim of the present study was to determine the presence of concomitant leukoplakia in 100 patients with OSCC, and to eval uate possible differences in clinical and histopathological parameters of t he OSCC between those with or without concomitant leukoplakia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred consecutive patients, 61 men and 39 women , with a histologically proven OSCC were screened on the presence of leukop lakia. Four groups were distinguished: (I) leukoplakia adjacent to the OSCC , (If) combination of leukoplakia adjacent to the OSCC, and leukoplakia at another oral site, (III) leukoplakia present at another oral site, but not adjacent to the OSCC, and (IV) no leukoplakia present. RESULTS: in 47 (47%) patients with OSCC the presence of concomitant leukopl akia was observed. Thirty-six (36%) patients had a leukoplakia adjacent to the OSCC (groups I and II), of which eight (8%) patients (group II) also ha d a leukoplakia present at another oral site. Eleven (11%) patients (group III) had no leukoplakia adjacent to the OSCC, but a leukoplakia present at another oral site. Fifty-three (53%) patients (group IV) with OSCC had no c oncomitant leukoplakia present. No differences were noted between men and w omen, nor was there any preference for an oral subsite with regard to the c arcinoma There were no statistically significant differences in clinical an d histopathological presentation of OSCC's between those with or without co ncomitant leukoplakia CONCLUSION: Almost 50% of oral squamous cell carcinomas are presumably asso ciated with or preceded by leukoplakia Early detection and active managemen t of patients with oral leukoplakia may prevent the true development of a n umber of oral squamous cell carcinomas.