Potentially malignant disorders of oral mucosa
General Medicine, 2025, 27(2), 61-68.
P. Petrov1, N. Stoyanova2, G. Goranov3, M. Kraeva4
1 Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Medical University ‒ Plovdiv
2 Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University ‒ Plovdiv
3 Section Cardiology, First Department of Internal Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University ‒ Plovdiv
4 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University ‒ Plovdiv
Abstract. Cancer of the oral cavity is among the most common malignant diseases. In most cases,
carcinoma is preceded by clinically visible changes of the oral mucosa, known as leukoplakia, erythroplakia, oral submucosal fibrosis, and oral lichen planus. These changes of the oral mucosa, which have a higher risk of turning into carcinoma compared to normal mucosa, are called potentially malignant diseases. Oral leukoplakia is the most common potentially malignant lesion in the oral cavity. Most of these lesions are associated with the presence of bad habits such as smoking, alcohol consumption, poor oral hygiene and
others. The purpose of this review is to present the main diagnostic approaches and subsequent therapeutic behavior. Screening of at-risk patients should be done through regular examinations. The analysis of the literature sources confirms the opinion that oral leukoplakia is a serious medical problem, for the solution of which complex measures are necessary in terms of adequate diagnosis, timely treatment and follow-up of
the patients in order to minimize the possibility of the development of oral carcinoma.
Key words: oral leucoplakia, epithelial dysplasia, oral cancer