Leukoplakia - dystrophic change of the mucosa, accompanied a keratinization of an epithelial layer. An etiology: local chronically operating irritating factors, smoking, alcohol.

Pathogenesis: develops on a background of a weak chronic inflammation; it is surveyed as original protective reaction to a chronic boring of a mucosa. Deficiency of vitamin A matters.

Signs, current. Mainly elderly men are ill. Usual localization - a mucosa of cheeks near an angle of a mouth, tongue, a lower lip. Allocate some forms. At the flat form of complaints is not present or there is a feeling of tightening; the center of a mucosa grows turbid, in process of a keratinization becomes transparent, reminding nacre; slightly acts above a relief of a mucosa. The warty form: sharply outlined sites of a keratinization quite often accumulating the centers of a flat leukoplakia; a surface tuberous. The erosive form is shown by erosions and cracks on a background of the centers of other forms of a leukoplakia.