Leukoplakia is defined as which condition?

Leukoplakia is defined as which condition?

• A. A fungal infection on the tongue.
• B. A candidiasis of the oropharynx.
• C. Inflammation of the gums.
• D. A precancerous condition in the mouth.

Answer: (D)

Leukoplakia is a white patch on the oral mucosa that cannot be rubbed off and isn’t due to another specific disease; it represents a precancerous change in the mouth that may, in some cases, progress toward squamous cell carcinoma. This non-scrapable white plaque distinguishes it from fungal infections like candidiasis, which produce white patches that can often be scraped away to reveal a red, inflamed surface. It also differs from gingivitis, which is inflammation of the gums with redness, swelling, and bleeding rather than white plaques. Thus leukoplakia is defined as a precancerous condition in the mouth.

Leukoplakia is a white patch on the oral mucosa that cannot be rubbed off and isn’t due to another specific disease; it represents a precancerous change in the mouth that may, in some cases, progress toward squamous cell carcinoma. This non-scrapable white plaque distinguishes it from fungal infections like candidiasis, which produce white patches that can often be scraped away to reveal a red, inflamed surface. It also differs from gingivitis, which is inflammation of the gums with redness, swelling, and bleeding rather than white plaques. Thus leukoplakia is defined as a precancerous condition in the mouth.