Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia and verrucous carcinoma - A diagnostic dilemma - Case Report.

ABSTRACT

The definition of leukoplakia is unusual in that it makes the diagnosis dependent not so much on definable appearances as on the exclusion of other entities that appear as oral white plaques. Leukoplakia or tobacco pouch keratosis may be seen on adjacent mucosal surfaces, and verrucous carcinoma is a lesion that may develop from the high risk precancer, proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (PVL). Verrucous carcinoma represents 1 % to 10% of all oral squamous cell carcinomas, depending on the local popularity of spit tobacco use. Many verrucous carcinomas arise from the oral mucosa in people who chronically use chewing tobacco or snuff, typically in the area where the tobacco is habitually placed. Both PVL and verrucous carcinoma may have been reported in the past by the name Oral florid papillomatosis.