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Leucoplasia - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Leucoplasia vellosa; Queratosis del fumador; Leucoplasia vulvar

Definición:

Son parches en la lengua, en la boca o en la parte interna de la mejilla que ocurren en respuesta a una irritación prolongada. Los parches de leucoplasia también pueden aparecer en los genitales externos femeninos.

Causas:

La leucoplasia afecta principalmente las membranas mucosas de la boca. Se cree que es ocasionada por irritación, pero la causa no siempre se conoce.

La irritación en la boca puede ser causada por:

  • Asperezas en los dientes
  • Asperezas en las prótesis dentales, obturaciones y coronas
  • Fumar u otros usos del tabaco (queratosis del fumador), especialmente pipas
  • Mantener el tabaco de mascar o rapé en la boca por un período de tiempo prolongado

El trastorno es más común en las personas de edad avanzada.

La leucoplasia "vellosa" de la boca es un trastorno diferente que se observa sobre todo en personas VIH positivas y puede ser uno de los primeros signos de infección por este virus. También puede aparecer en otras personas cuyos sistemas inmunitarios no están funcionando bien, como después de un trasplante de médula ósea. Es causada por el virus de Epstein-Barr, pero no es dañina en sí. Los síntomas más comunes de la leucoplasia vellosa son parches blanquecinos, vellosos e indoloros en la parte lateral de la lengua.

  • Reviewed last on: 7/20/2011
  • David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Seth Schwartz, MD, MPH, Otolaryngologist, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

Sciubba JJ. Oral mucosal lesions. In: Cummings CW, Flint PW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2010:chap 91.

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