Mucosa Colour Change Flashcards
What is Leukoplakia?
A white patch that cannot be scraped off or attributed to any other cause
It is a diagnosis of exclusion - biopsied to find out cause
What makes lesions appear white?
A thickening of the mucosa or keratin
–Less visibility of blood cells in connective tissue beneath
Less blood in the tissues
–Vasoconstrictor
What are Fordyce’s spots?
Ectopic sebaceous glands
Mostly seen on buccal mucosa or within the lips
Benign, normal structures
What is frictional keratosis (linea alba)?
Reactive thickening of the mucosa- loss of visibility to blood vessels
Usually seen in patients who have a parafunctional habit like clenching and grinding their teeth
What is Smoker’s keratosis?
Low malignant potential of the lesion
Smokers are 6x more likely to have leukoplakia
Trauma from thermal gases, reactive change keratosis
white palate
What is white sponge naevus?
Hereditary keratosis - not subject to trauma
often starts in childhood
buccal mucosa and up and down into the sulcus
What is infective candidosis?
Pseudomembranous acute (thrush)
Can be scraped off with a swab which will leave a red bleeding area in the affected site
When should you refer a white lesion?
Most are benign
If red and white lesion concentrate on the red part
If the lesion is becoming more raised and thickened
If the lesion is ‘without cause’
–lateral tongue
–anterior floor of mouth
–soft palate area
Why are red lesions red?
Blood flow increases
–inflammation
–dysplasia
reduced thickness of the epithelium which is making the connective tissue redness more visible
What is erythroplakia?
Atrophic or non-keratinised end of the spectrum
A red patch which cannot be attributed to any other cause
More of a concern for malignancy than leukoplakia
REQUIRES BIOPSY
What is a vascular hamartoma?
Haemangioma
–Capillary
–Cavernous
Lesion will increase and decrease in size which highlights it is most likely a vascular lesion
Malignancy would only increase in size
What does a raised ACTH- Addison’s disease look like orally?
It makes the gingiva appear darker as it makes the melanocytes produce more melanin
What features of a lesion could indicate that it is melanoma?
Variable pigmentation (high and low levels within the same lesion
Irregular outline
Raised Surface
Symptomatic
–itch
–bleed
What can a biopsy identify?
Identifies or excludes malignancy
Identifies dysplasia (increase in abnormal cell growth or development)
Identifies other disease e.g. lichen planus
