Mucosa Colour Changes Flashcards
what can cause oral white lesions
smoking/ frictional changes
lichen planus
candidal leukoplakia
carcinoma
why are white lesions white
the red colour of mucosa comes from the connective tissues - where the blood vessels are
when there is thickening of the mucosa or keratin there is less visibility of blood so appears more white
what is leukoplakia
a white patch which cannot be scraped off or attributed to any other cause
what are Fordyce’s spots
benign, variation of normal with no malignancy potential
white bumps on the buccal mucosa
where might you find frictional keratosis
in patients who grind their teeth on the buccal mucosa along the occlusal plane
why might smokers get frictional keratosis
trauma from thermal gases
what is hereditary keratosis
not traumatic - occurs in areas not subject to trauma
what is an example of hereditary keratosis
white sponge naevus - fluid accumulating between the epithelium
what is idiopathic keratosis
clearly defined white lesion with normal mucosa surrounding
what must you do with idiopathic keratosis lesions
biopsy them
what medications might cause white lesions
aspirin - aspirin burns
what are the three types of infective causes that contribute to white patches
pseudomembranous acute candidiasis
denture associated chronic candidiasis
herpes simplex
what does pseudomembranous suggest
they membrane can be scraped off and leaves a red inflamed area underneath
how does herpes simplex appear as white lesions
they appear as white vesicles on the lips
when to refer a white lesion
if lesion is becoming more raised and thickened
if lesion is without cause
take photograph with referral
why are red lesions red
blood flow increases due to inflammation and dysplasia
there is also reduced thickness of the epithelium
