Management of Oral Proliferative Verrucous Leukoplakia Using Laser Therapy

Leukoplakia is described as “a white patch or plaque that cannot be characterized, clinically or pathologically, as any other disease” by the World Health Organization. This condition is a significant cause of death and morbidity, with a 5-year survival rate in 50% of the population affected by it. Oral proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (OPVL) is an uncommon variant of leukoplakia and has an increased rate of progression to verrucous carcinoma and oral squamous cell carcinoma. The patient described in this article reported with raised, whitish patch on the left buccal mucosa for 8 months, who had a habit of tobacco quid keeping into the buccal sulcus. The provisional diagnosis of the patient with proliferative verrucous leukoplakia was confirmed both clinically and histopathologically, which was managed with laser excision and pharmacological treatment. Although the patient was advised a follow-up period of 2 years, the patient maintained the follow-up for only 1 month, which reveals no recurrence. Moreover patient was completely satisfied with the treatment and cosmetic outcome of the intervention. The patient was advised to continue with the pharmacological treatment to avoid the malignant transformation of the lesion.