What does vulvar leukoplakia look like?

What does vulvar leukoplakia look like?

This condition is characterized by a pink-red vulva with overlying grey-white keratin and involved labium majus, nympholabial furrow, preputium clitoridis, and commissura labiorum posterior. In the early stage of the disease, the skin might appear dark red or pink, while hyperkeratotic skin might appear white.

Should leukoplakia be removed?

Leukoplakia is usually harmless, and lesions usually clear in a few weeks or months after the source of irritation is removed. If eliminating the source of irritation is ineffective in reducing leukoplakia, the lesion may need to be surgically removed.

Should leukoplakia be biopsied?

If you have leukoplakia, your doctor will likely test for early signs of cancer by: Oral brush biopsy. This involves removing cells from the surface of the lesion with a small, spinning brush. This is a non-invasive procedure, but does not always result in a definitive diagnosis.

Is leukoplakia reversible?

Mild leukoplakia is usually harmless and often goes away on its own. More serious cases may be linked to oral cancer and must be treated promptly. Regular dental care can help prevent recurrences.

How serious is leukoplakia?

Leukoplakia usually is not dangerous, but it can sometimes be serious. Although most leukoplakia patches are benign, a small percentage show early signs of cancer, and many cancers of the mouth occur next to areas of leukoplakia.

How long does it take for leukoplakia to turn cancerous?

Leukoplakia is different from other causes of white patches such as thrush or lichen planus because it can eventually develop into oral cancer. Within 15 years, about 3% to 17.5% of people with leukoplakia will develop squamous cell carcinoma, a common type of skin cancer.

What happens if leukoplakia goes untreated?

Leukoplakia usually doesn’t cause permanent damage to tissues in your mouth. However, leukoplakia increases your risk of oral cancer. Oral cancers often form near leukoplakia patches, and the patches themselves may show cancerous changes. Even after leukoplakia patches are removed, the risk of oral cancer remains.

Can HPV cause leukoplakia?

Although there appears to be some link between human papillomavirus (HPV) and oral leukoplakia, there is little evidence to support a causal relationship either between HPV infection and oral leukoplakia or between HPV-infected leukoplakic keratinocytes and their carcinomatous transformation.