PROLIFERATIVE VERRUCOUS LEUKOPLAKIA—AN OBSTINATE PATHOLOGY

Abstract

<h3>Objective</h3> Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (PVL) is a unique form of oral leukoplakia that has a high risk of becoming dysplastic and transforming into oral squamous cell carcinoma. The purpose of this study was to review and analyze institutional data on PVL. <h3>Material and Methods</h3> This was a hospital-based study, performed in the Department of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, Goverment Dental College & Hospital, Nagpur. The total number of PVL cases from January 2003 to April 2016 was calculated based on clinicopathologic correlation. They were further analyzed based on their demographic data, habits, clinical presentation, histopathologic diagnosis, and malignant transformation. <h3>Results</h3> Twelve cases were diagnosed as PVL on the basis of clinicopathologic correlation. Among these patients, 3 were female (25%) and 9 were male (75%). The average age of these patients was 48.5 years. Ten patients had a habit of chewing tobacco in various forms (83%) and 2 patients did not (17%). PVL lesions in 4 patients out of 12 were transformed into malignancy (33%). <h3>Conclusion</h3> PVL is rare, highly aggressive form of oral leukoplakia that requires special attention on the part of clinician. The earliest possible diagnosis and treatment is recommended. Proper long-term follow-up of these patients should be done even after surgical management because PVL has a higher recurrence rate and owing to its malignant transformation potential.