학술논문
The value of regular follow‐up of oral leukoplakia for early detection of malignant transformation.
Document Type
Article
Author
Source
Subject
*SQUAMOUS cell carcinoma
*PEARSON correlation (Statistics)
*MOUTH tumors
*T-test (Statistics)
*DATA analysis
*EARLY detection of cancer
*FISHER exact test
*ORAL leukoplakia
*RETROSPECTIVE studies
*MANN Whitney U Test
*CHI-squared test
*DESCRIPTIVE statistics
*MEDICAL records
*ACQUISITION of data
*STATISTICS
*DATA analysis software
*PATIENT aftercare
*DISEASE progression
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Language
ISSN
1354-523X
Abstract
Objectives: Evaluate whether regular follow‐up of oral leukoplakia (OL) resulted in early detection of malignant transformation (MT). Method: Two hundred and twenty‐two consecutive patients with OL (147 females, 75 males); median follow‐up period of 64 months (range: 12–300). Three groups were distinguished: group A (n = 92) follow‐up at the hospital; group B (n = 84) follow‐up by their dentist; group C (n = 46) lost to follow‐up. Results: OLs in group B compared to group A, were smaller in size (<2 cm; p < 0.001), showed more hyperkeratosis (p < 0.001) and less moderate/severe dysplasia (p < 0.001). MT occurred in 45 (20%) patients: 32 (35%) in group A, five (6%) in group B and eight (17%) in group C. There was no significant difference in clinical tumour size between group A (median: 15 mm, range: 1–40) and group B (median: 10 mm, range: 3–25; p = 0.496). Tumour size was smaller for patients in groups A and B (median: 10 mm, range 1–40) compared to group C (median: 33 mm, range: 3–100; p = 0.003). There was a positive correlation between tumour size and interval between the last visit in all patients (p = 0.022). Conclusion: Regular follow‐up of OL resulted in early detection of MT. If properly selected, follow‐up of OL performed by the dentist seems feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]