Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
Leukoplakia is a precancerous sore (lesion) that develops on the tongue or the inside of the cheek in response to
Alternative Names
Hairy leukoplakia; Smoker's keratosis
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Leukoplakia mainly affects the mucus membranes of the mouth. It is caused by irritation. Sores usually develop on the tongue, but they may also appear on the insides of the cheek.
Irritation in the mouth may be caused by rough teeth or rough places on dentures, fillings, and crowns. It may also result from smoking or other tobacco use (smoker's keratosis). Persons who smoke pipes are at high risk for developing this condition, as are those who hold chewing tobacco or snuff in their mouth for a long period of time.
Leukoplakia patches may develop on the external female genital area, but the cause is unknown.
Leukoplakia may become cancerous.
The disorder is most common in elderly persons.
"Hairy" leukoplakia of the mouth is an unusual form of leukoplakia that is seen mostly in
White patches usually appear on the tongue and sometimes on other places in the mouth. The condition may look like
Review Date: 08/28/2009
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of
General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington
School of Medicine; and Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor
in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine,
Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine,
Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD,
MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
