Etiology, Pathology and Treatment of Leukoplakia Buccalis

Modern Studies and Concepts of Leukoplakia in the Mouth

“…McCarthy 6 in 1931 reviewed a series of 316 cases of leukoplakia and classified them on the basis of their clinical and histologic patterns into four grades, namely, Grade 1 lesions that are red and gray patches with microscopic evidence of chronic inflammation and slight hyperkeratosis; Grade 2 lesions that are bluish‐white patches or plaques, sharply outlined, hyperkeratotic but not indurated; Grade 3 lesions that are indurated, wrinkled, white plaques and show marked hyperkeratosis; and Grade 4 lesions that often have fissures and erosions within the plaques and early malignant changes in microscopy. This early classification served as the basis for many later studies, and indicated properly that the prognosis of a case of oral leukoplakia depends upon the nature of its gross and microscopic pathology.…”