Recurrent thrush, leukoplakia and lichen planus are three different diseases, and there is no causal relationship between the three diseases. Recurrent thrush will become leukoplakia, leukoplakia will develop into lichen planus, and lichen planus will definitely become cancerous. We discuss the three diseases as follows.
I. Recurrent mouth ulcers
Recurrent oral ulcers, also known as recurrent aphthous ulcers (RAU), refer to ulcerative diseases of the oral mucosa characterized by periodic recurrence. The etiology is unknown, but it is thought to be related to the following factors: immune dysfunction, vitamin and trace element deficiency, gastrointestinal and endocrine system diseases, mental stress, and genetics.
Its main clinical manifestations and medical history patterns are as follows
1.Clinical manifestations.
(1) Oral mucosal ulcers are single or several recurrent, with variable intervals.
(2) The ulcers occur at any site, but the site with poor keratinization is still the most.
(3) The ulcers are round or oval in shape, slightly depressed in the center, surrounded by a congested red halo, with a yellow pseudomembrane on the surface.
(4) Light mucosal ulcers of stomatitis are about 2-5 mm in diameter; stomatitis-type oral mucosal ulcers are slightly smaller in diameter and can appear as dozens of small scattered ulcers; heavy oral mucosal ulcers can reach deep into the submucosa and are often solitary with a diameter greater than 10 mm, often leaving a scar after healing.
(5) The ulcer site is more painful.
2. The pattern of medical history.
(1) Recurrent: history of at least 2 recurrent oral ulcers and history of more than one year.
(2) Self-limiting
It should be noted that recurrent mouth ulcers are not leukoplakia, but one of the clinical manifestations of leukoplakia, which has recurrent mouth ulcers; in addition, recurrent mouth ulcers do not become cancerous.
Leukoaraiosis
Leukoencephalopathy, also known as Behçet’s syndrome, is a triad of oral-ocular-genital syndrome. The main clinical features of the disease are the simultaneous or sequential occurrence of oral mucosal ulcers, as well as eye, genital and skin lesions, which affect almost every case. Of these, oral ulcers are the most basic lesion, with an incidence of 100%.
The exact cause of the disease is still unclear. Studies have shown that immune and genetic factors, disorders of the fibrinolytic system and microcirculatory system, as well as infections such as viruses and bacterial syphilis spirochetes and micronutrient deficiencies may be related to the disease.
1.Clinical manifestations.
(1) Oral ulcers: similar to recurrent aphthous ulcers
(2) Genital ulcers: recurrent, but the interval is much greater than that of oral ulcers
(3) Skin lesions: erythema nodosum, folliculitis, facial boils, positive skin prick reaction
(4) Ocular lesions: conjunctivitis, chorioretinitis, retinitis, etc.
(5) Other rare symptoms
2, the pattern of medical history: multi-system multi-organ recurrent attacks
It should be noted that leukoplakia is not a precancerous lesion or pre-cancerous state and will not become cancerous.
Flat moss
Oral lichen planus (LP) is a chronic inflammatory skin mucosal disease, oral lesions are characterized by pearly white damage or with congested erosions, skin and oral cavity can occur at the same time, but also can occur alone. The cause of the disease is unknown, mainly related to immune dysfunction, psycho-neurological factors, genetic factors, infection factors, etc. The prevalence rate is as high as 0.51%, with middle-aged women as the prevalent population. Very few cases have the tendency to become malignant, and WHO classifies it as precancerous state, and its cancer rate is 1%-3%.
Clinical manifestations.
1. It can develop at all ages, mostly in middle-aged women.
2. The lesions can occur in any part of the oral mucosa and can be symmetrical, with the buccal mucosa being the most common.
3, the lesions consist of white papules arranged in a network, dendrites, rings into stripes or plaques, etc., may be accompanied by basal mucosal congestion, erosion.
4, can be accompanied by systemic skin damage, mostly on the extremities and trunk, as flat polygonal purple-red papules, with itching; may also appear finger (toe) nail lesions.
5. Histopathological changes of lichen planus can be seen on biopsy of the lesion.
It should be noted that lichen planus is precancerous and has the possibility of cancer, but its cancer rate is only 1%-3%, and there is a process of cancer, as long as active treatment follow-up, keep a good attitude, some patients will be cured: even if the lesion occurs, it can be diagnosed and treated in time.