Study Results from Federal University Rio Grande do Sul Broaden Understanding of Leukoplakia (Leukoplakia and Erythroplakia In Youngers Versus Older Individuals: a Clinicopathological Retrospective Study).

A recent study conducted at the Federal University Rio Grande do Sul in Porto Alegre, Brazil, aimed to understand the frequency and characteristics of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) in different age groups. The study found that the incidence of OPMDs in young adults has decreased over the years, while older adults showed an unfavorable progression of these disorders. The older group had a higher prevalence of dysplastic lesions, red or mixed lesions, and a higher percentage of smokers/ex-smokers and alcohol consumers/ex-consumers. The presence of epithelial dysplasia and red lesions diagnosed as erythroplakia were identified as significant variables associated with malignant transformation. [Extracted from the article]