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Oral Cancer - Pre-Malignant Lesions
Most oral cancers appear to arise in ‘normal’ oral mucosa
but some are preceded by potentially malignant / pre-
malignant clinically obvious lesions.

These include:







Conditions that MAY predispose to malignancy (ie oral
cancer) include:

  • Lichenoid lesions + Lichenoid Dysplasia


  • Previous oral malignancy

  • Syphilitic Leukoplakia / Glossitis

  • Immunosupression

  • Dyskeratosis Congenita

  • Paterson-Kelly syndrome

  • Discoid Lupus Erythematosis

What are thought to be the lesions / conditions likely to
cause malignancy are logically the same ones that cause
pre-malignancy.
Last Updated 14th December 2011
Actinic Cheilitis (AKA Actinic Keratosis of Lip, Solar
Keratosis, Solar Cheilosis)

  • Occurs in adults & mainly men
  • Mainly seen in persons from the Tropics
  • Chronic pre-malignant keratosis of the lip caused by
    long exposure to solar irradiation.  Most is seen:
  • on the lower lip with sparing of the commissures
  • in fair-skinned men
  • 4 – 8th decade of life
  • outdoor jobs / activities
  • Early stages – erythema & œdema; later stages, the
    lip becomes dry, scaly & wrinkled with grey / white
    changes in pigmentation.  Lesions appear as a smooth
    or scaly, friable patch or even the whole lip.  Later
    still, the lip becomes thickened with small greyish-
    white plaques with even warty nodules forming
  • Prevention with sunblocks
  • Treatment with topical chemo-exfoliants & surgery
Erythroplasia / Erythroplakia (AKA Red Patch)

  • Occurs in the middle aged & the elderly & mainly in
    men
  • Less common than leukoplakia
  • Erythroplakia contains areas of dysplasia, carcinoma
    in situ or invasive carcinoma in virtually every case

Most potentially malignant of all oral mucosal lesions.

  • Red velvety patch of variable configuration, usually
    level / depressed with surrounding mucosa, commonly
    on the soft palate, floor of mouth or the buccal
    mucosæ
  • Some erythroplakias are associated with white
    patches & hence termed, speckled leukoplakias
  • Any causal factor, such as tobacco, should be stopped
  • Lesions removed followed by regular follow-ups
Leukoplakia (AKA White Patch)

  • Occurs in approx 1% of the population; men > women
  • Predisposing habits – tobacco, alcohol & betel use;
    sanguinarine use

  • Leukoplakia has a wide range of clinical
    presentations, from homogenous white plaques
    (faintly white – very thick & opaque) to nodular white
    lesions to lesions admixed with red lesions.

The malignant potential depends on appearance, site
& some ætiological factors.

  • Appearance – non-homogenous / heterogenous
    leukoplakias has a high risk of malignant
    transformation

  • Site – soft palate complex, ventro-lateral tongue &
    FOM have a high risk of malignant transformation

  • Ætiology – virus (HPV, EBV), bacterial (syphilis) or
    fungal (Candida) have a high risk of malignant
    transformation

  • Any causal factor, such as tobacco, should be
    stopped.
  • Lesions removed followed by regular follow-ups.
  • Surgical / Medical treatment
Photos of Leukoplakias
Photo of Speckled Leukoplakia (arrowed)
Dysplasia seems to be the most predictive marker in use for
malignant potential.


Factors Predictive of Future Malignant Transformation may include:

  • History of cancer of upper aero-digestive tract
  • Expression of P53 tumour suppressor protein
  • Changes involving chromosomes 3p or 9p; “Loss of Heterozygosity”
    LOH
  • Chromosomal polysomy


Principles of Management of Dysplastic Lesions:

  • Stop any associated habits, eg betel quid or smoking
  • Treat any candidal infection and / or iron deficiency if present
  • Biopsy to assess dysplasia
  • Assess risk of pre-malignant change on clinical & histological
    findings
  • Consider ablation of individual lesions
  • Maintain observation for signs of malignant change


Options for the Management of Pre-Malignant Lesions:

  • Observation for early detection of cancer
  • Surgical excision with grafting (if required)
  • Cryotherapy
  • Laser excision / vaporisation
  • Topical chemotherapy (eg bleomycin)
  • Retinoids

Cryotherapy heals rapidly to leave an apparently normal mucosa.  
However, there is some uncertainty about the risk of OSCC subsequently
arising in these sites.

With laser ablation, seemingly similar concerns.

Topical chemotherapy are largely ineffective and lesions that resolve,
recur on cessation of the drugs.
Photo of Actinic Cheilitis
Photos of Actinic Cheilitis
Photos of Erythroplasia / Erythroplakia
Management of Leukoplakia
Useful Websites:

The Oral Cancer Foundation

The Mouth Cancer Foundation

Emedicine.com


Useful Articles:

BMJ 1999.  Oral Cancer

Dental Update 1999.  Update on Precancerous Lesions

CA Cancer J Clin 2002.  Oral Cancer and Precancerous Lesions

BDJ 2003.  Oral Cancer Prevention & Detection in Primary Healthcare

Preventive Dentistry 2006.  Oral Cancer - A Growing Concern

Dental Update 2006.  Current Concepts in the Management of Oral Cancer

Canadian Family Physician 2008.  Clinical Review.  Screening for and
Diagnosis of Oral Pre-Malignant Lesions and Oro-Pharyngeal Squamous
Cell Carcinoma.  Role of Primary Care Physicians

Oral Oncology 2008.  Oral Cancer Prevention and Control – The
Approach of the World Health Organization

American Academy of Oral Medicine 2008. Patient Information Sheet.  
Pre-Malignant Oral Lesions

Oral Oncology 2009.  Review.  Global Epidemiology of Oral and Oro-
Pharyngeal Cancer

Head Neck 2009.  Treatment & Follow-up of Oral Dysplasia - A
Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis

BJOMS 2011.  Management of Oral Carcinoma - Benefits of Early Pre-
Cancerous Intervention
Management of Potentially Malignant Lesion
Warning Features of an Oral Lesion suggestive on Oral Cancer