2. 2
-
Pseudomembranous candidiasis
Chemical burn
Food debris (materia alba)
Detached keratin
Dentifrice-associated epithelial slough
White lesions that can be rubbed off
Frictional keratosis
Lichenoid contact reaction
Idiopathic leukoplakia
Oral squamous cell carcinoma
White lesions associated with
smokeless tobacco
- Candidal leukoplakia
-
Single white lesions that cannot be rubbed off
Generalized white plaque
- Idiopathic leukoplakia
- Lichen planus
- Lupus erythematosus
- Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia
Bilateral white lesions
- Linea alba buccalis
- White sponge nevus
- Hairy leukoplakia
- Lichen planus
- Lichenoid drug reaction
- Leukoedema
- Candidal leukoplakia
Multiple white lesions that cannot be rubbed off
White lesions that cannot be rubbed off
White lesion
Siribang-on Piboonniyom Khovidhunkit
3. 3
White lesions associated with
smokeless tobacco
White sponge nevus
Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia
Pseudomembranous candidiasis
Linea alba buccalis
Oral squamous cell carcinoma
Lichenoid drug reaction
Lichen planus
Lichenoid contact reaction
Leukoedema
Idiopathic leukoplakia
Dentifrice-associated slough
Frictional keratosis
Hairy leukoplakia
Presents as asymptomatic folded bilateral lesions of buccal mucosa that tend to be thickened
and have a sponge consistency
White plaque cannot be rubbed off, usually presents bilaterally on the anterior buccal mucosa
close to commissural area
History of direct application of some medications such as aspirin or chemical agents to oral
mucosa
History of using dentifrice with strong detergent or flavoring compounds
White plaque adjacent to contributing factors such as sharp tooth or poorly fitting dentures
Asymptomatic white lesions cannot be rubbed off, usually located on lateral borders of the tongue
in HIV-infected subjects or other immunocompromised patients, associated with Epstein-Barr
virus (EBV) infection
White plaque cannot be rubbed off in a patient with a history of smoking, alcohol consumption or
betel nut chewing habit
Diffuse, filmy surface, translucent white plaque on bilateral buccal mucosa with dissipation of
white plaque upon stretching
Presents with white striation (Wickham’s striae) on bilateral buccal mucosa
Presents with white striation (Wickham’s striae) adjacent to metal containing products such as
amalgam restoration or metal crown
History of using medications such as antihypertensive drugs that can induce lichenoid lesion on
bilateral buccal mucosa
White lines on bilateral buccal mucosa adjacent to the occlusal plane of upper and lower teeth
White plaque cannot be rubbed off in a patient with a history of smoking, tobacco use, alcohol
consumption or betel nut chewing habit
White plaque can be rubbed off leaning a red, raw, or bleeding surface. Usually presents with
predisposing factors such as immunocompromising conditions, long-term use of steroids or
antibiotics, or hyposalivation
White plaque cannot be rubbed off on gingiva with cauliflower like surface, usually grows rapidly
and can be trans formed to verrucous carcinoma
White plaque cannot be rubbed off in a patient with a history of using smokeless tobacco
Candidal leukoplakia
Chemical burn
Key characteristics of the lesions
Lesions
4. 4
Denture-induced
stomatitis
- Erythematous
lesion on
denture
bearing area
- History of
wearing
denture at night
or poor oral
hygiene and
poor denture
condition
- Immunocompromised
patients
- Patients with
hyposivation
Erythematous
candidiasis
- Red area
with burning
sensation to
spicy food
- History of
using longterm
antibiotics or
corticosteroids
- Patients with
immunocompromised
condition,
e.g., HIV
infection
- Erosive area
with burning
sensation
to spicy food
- History of using
medications
for systemic
diseases, e.g.
hypertension,
diabetes
mellitus, gout,
dyslipidemia
- May present
adjacent to
dental
restorations,
e.g., amalgam,
composite resin,
or metal crown
Erosive (atrophic)
lichen planus or
Lichenoid reaction
- Generalized
erosive area
on attached
gingiva
- Can be seen in
• Lichen planus
• Pemphigus
• Pemphigoid
Desquamative
gingivitis
Red lesion
- Depapillation
on central
posterior
dorsum
of the tongue
- Associated
with candidal
infection
Median
rhomboid
glossitis
- Red-white
lesion after
exclusion of
all other
possible
diagnoses
- Premalignant
lesion
associated with
history of
smoking,
tobacco use,
betel nut
chewing and/or
alcohol abuse
- Usually
demonstrates
dysplastic
changes on the
red area
Erythroplakia
- Malignant
lesion
associated
with history
of smoking,
tobacco use,
betel nut
chewing
and/or
alcohol
abuse
Squamous cell
carcinoma
Siribang-on Piboonniyom Khovidhunkit
5. 5
- White plaque
can be rubbed
off, leaving red
area or
bleeding
- History of using
long-term
antibiotics or
corticosteroids
- Patients with
immunocompromised
conditions, e.g.,
HIV infection or
using immunosuppressants
- Patients with
hyposalivation
from radiotherapy of oral
cancer
Oral candidiasis
of mixed
pseudomembranous and erythematous types
Geographic
tongue
- Red or
depapillated
area with
white rim on
the tongue
- Burning
sensation if
candidal
superinfection
- More common
in individuals
with allergic
diseases; e.g.
atopy,
asthma, and
contact allergy
Cheek or tongue
biting habit
- Red areas with
white shredded
surface on
lateral surface
of the tongue or
buccal mucosa
- History of cheek
or tongue biting
habit
- Reduction of the
lesion can be
obtained after
the abstinence
of such habit
Lichen planus or
Lichenoid reaction
Red and white lesion
- Erosive area with
white striation
(Wickham’s
striae)
- Burning sensation to spicy food
- History of using
medications for
systemic
diseases, e.g.
hypertension,
DM, gout,
dyslipidemia
- May present
adjacent to
dental restoration, e.g.,
amalgam,
composite resin,
or crown
- Red papule
on white
plaque that
cannot be
rubbed off
- Presents on
the posterior
palate in
individuals
with history of
heavy smoking
Nicotinic stomatitis
(Stomatitis
nicotina)
- Red-white
lesions after
exclusion of all
other possible
diagnoses
- Premalignant
lesion associated with
smoking,
tobacco use,
betel nut
chewing
and/or heavy
consumption
of alcohol
- Usually
demonstrate
dysplastic
changes on the
red area
Erythroleukoplakia
- Malignant
lesion
associated
with history
of smoking,
tobacco use,
betel nut
chewing
and/or
alcohol
abuse
Squamous cell
carcinoma
Siribang-on Piboonniyom Khovidhunkit
6. 6
Recurrent
herpes simplex
virus infection
Recurrent
herpes zoster
virus infection
Multiple unilateral erosions
or cluster of small painful erosions on
the hard palate or attached gingiva
Chronic onset
- Lichen planus
(usually presents
with white striations,
i.e., Wickham’s
striae)
- Pemphigus/pem
phigoid/other
vesiculobullous
diseases
Acute onset
Generalized
widespread
erosions
Erosion
(a partial loss of epithelium
presenting as a single or multiple
red patches)
- Primary herpetic
gingivostomatitis
- Erythema
multiforme, e.g.,
after using some
medications or
after herpes virus
infection
- Lichen planus/Lichenoid reaction
- Trauma or burn of a known cause
- Precancerous lesion such as
erythroplakia
- Carcinoma
- Bullous diseases such as
pemphigus, pemphigoid
Single or multiple localized erosion
Siribang-on Piboonniyom Khovidhunkit
8. 8
Amalgam tattoo
Decorative tattoo
Chlorhexidine staining
Heavy metal sulphides
(check for occupational exposure)
- Black hairy tongue
-
Extrinsic factors
Intrinsic factors
No blanching on pressure
Red, blue, brown, yellow, or yellow
brown pigmentation
- Hemorrhage
- Kaposi’s sarcoma
- Pyogenic granuloma
- Benign and malignant vascular
neoplasms
Blanches on pressure (discoloration
is due to blood in vessels)
- Hemangioma/vascular
malformation
- Varix (varicosity)
Blood and blood-derived pigmentation
Nonwhite lesion
Associated with tumor mass
- Pigmented neuroectodermal tumor
of infancy
- Melanoma
Discrete flat pigmentation patches
- Benign melanotic macule
- Pigmented nevus
- Melanoma/melanoma in situ
Generalized diffuse or patchy
pigmentation
- Racial pigmentation
- Inflammatory pigmentation
- Addison’s disease
- Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
- Drug-induced pigmentation, e.g.,
minocline, tetracycline
- Smoker’s melanosis
- Melanoacanthoma
Melanin pigmentation
Siribang-on Piboonniyom Khovidhunkit
9. 9
Smoker’s melanosis
Varix (varicosity)
Racial pigmentation
Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
Pigmented nevus
Pigmented neuroectodermal tumor
of infancy
Pyogenic granuloma
Melanoma/melanoma in situ
Melanoacanthoma
Hemangioma/vascular malformation
Hemorrhage
Inflammatory pigmentation
Kaposi’s sarcoma
Decorative tattoo
Drug-induced pigmentation
Heavy metal sulphides
Black hairy tongue
Benign melanotic macule
History of trauma or irritation, most common on gingiva, can be associated with pregnancy or a
use of contraceptive medication
Generalized homogeneous pigmentation on the attached gingiva; bilaterally symmetry,
common in dark-skinned patients
History of smoking, presents as pigmentation most often found on anterior gingiva
More common in elderly patients, most common on upper or lower lip, ventral surface of the
tongue
Associated with signs and symptoms of Addison’s disease, e.g., weakness, fatigue, perioral and
cutaneous pigmentation. Serum cortisol levels should be investigated.
Usually presents adjacent to a large amalgam filling or crown; most common on edentulous
ridge
Usually exists since childhood as brown flat lesion with no change in size or location
Can be solitary or multiple and most commonly presents on upper or lower lip or palate
Black or dark brown pigment localized to the dorsum of the tongue with or without overgrowth of
filiform papillae
Usually presents in patients with hyposalivation, and a history of using antibiotic medication or
other herbal lozenges
History of tattoo application
History of using long-term medication, e.g., minocycline, tetracycline, anti-retroviral medications
History of occupational exposure, e.g., working in a factory with chemical substance that
contains heavy metal
Presents since childhood, if the lesion is large, pulsation can be obtained
History of trauma or taking anticoagulant medication
History of chronic inflammation, e.g., patient with lichen planus
Irregular mass associated with immunocompromised condition, e.g., HIV infection, patients who
are on immunosuppressive medication
Acute onset with generalized pigmentation of the oral cavity
More common in African-American or Indian population
Most frequently seen on palate or gingiva as brown to black macule or mass with irregular
borders
Associated with intestinal polyposis or presents with gastrointestinal problems
Usually exists since childhood as solitary small brown, black or blue elevated papule or nodule
Presents in infant less than 6 months of age and occurs typically in maxilla
Addison’s disease
Amalgam tattoo
Key characteristics of the lesions
Lesions