Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia

Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia is a rare and very aggressive form of leukoplakia, which in 90% of cases becomes malignant. It affects in greater numbers females aged between 60 and 70 years of age. Clinically, proliferative verrucous leukoplakia presents as a patch or verrucoid, keratotic plaque, which grows rapidly and tends to spread out and conjoin. Often it is situated on the masticatory mucosa, buccal mucosa and the tongue. It cannot be correlated to risk factors which are typical of leukoplakia, such as smoking and the excessive consumption of alcohol, whilst its association with the HPV virus is a matter of great debate. Indispensable is a biopsy and histo-cytopathothological examination of the lesion/s (often a varying degree of dysplasia is present). Its total removal is advised for lesions which are not too extensive and where there is dysplasia/carcinoma in situ, even if the recurrence is frequent.