A Case Report of a Tobacco-Pouch Keratosis: Catch It Early

The following case report elaborates on a case of a male aged 44 years having an adverse habit of tobacco lime quid keeping and ghutka in the lower left buccal vestibule. The long-term continuation of this habit of around 15 years resulted in the wrinkling of the oral mucosa and a change in local coloration, imparting a grayish white color called tobacco-pouch keratosis. Long-standing tobacco-pouch keratosis may be converted into true leukoplakia, which, on persistence of habit, may be transformed into malignant changes. In this regard, the patient education and counseling regarding the consequences of deleterious habits on the oral mucosa, and therefore elimination of related adverse habits and was done. Along with quitting of habit, scaling and polishing were performed, and appropriate treatment was given, which resulted in a reduction of the lesion. However, the long-term follow-up and complete discontinuation of adverse habits is necessary to minimize the threat of malignant transformation.