Mucosal Colour Changes Flashcards
Causes of oral white lesions
- Hereditary - white sponge naevus
- Smoking/frictional
- Lichen planus
- Candidal leukoplakia
- Carcinoma- SSC
Thickening of mucosa/white lesion is caused by ____
Increase in keratin
Define leukoplakia
White patch can’t be scraped off or attributed to any other cause
1-5% become malignant
Diagnosis of exclusion
When to refer a lesion
Inc in size, colour,consistency
Unexplained - no cause
High risk area/SH
Any symptomatic lesion not responded to tx
Why are lesions red?
Blood flow increases from inflammation
Define erythroplakia
Red patch no cause
More concerning than leukoplakia
What is a fordyce spot?
Collection of normal sebaceous glands within the oral cavity
What is smokers keratosis
Premalignant
Trauma from tobacco–> pathological production of keratin
What would you tell a pt with smokers keratosis
Low malignant potential of the lesion
BUT high oral cancer risk overall
List some localised causes of mucosal colour change
Amalgam tatto
Malignant melanoma/melanotic macule
Haemangioma
List some generalised causes for mucosal colour change (5)
Race/familial
Smoking
Drugs
Addisons disease - increased ACTH
Protocol for lesions
Take pics, KUO, send pics to specialist if concerned
When to refer swellings
Symptomatic
Abnormal mucosa
Inc in size, change in consistency
