Snapshot A 66-year-old man presents to his primary care physician with oral lesions. He is not sure when his symptoms began, but he denies any trauma to his oral mucosa. He endorses smoking 1 pack of cigarettes daily for the past 45 years and drinks socially. Physical examination is notable for white plaques in the oral mucosa that do not scrape off. He is referred for biopsy. Introduction Overview oral mucosal white patches with malignancy potential that cannot be scraped off Associated conditions squamous cell carcinoma Epidemiology Risk factors tobacco use alcohol use human papillomavirus (HPV) infection ETIOLOGY Pathophysiology unclear Presentation Physical exam oral plaques that cannot be scraped off Studies Biopsy indication confirms the diagnosis and determines the degree of dysplasia Differential Oral hairy leukplakia differentiating factors seen in immunocompromised patients and caused by Epstein-Barr virus Pseudomembranous candidiasis differentiating factors can be scraped off Treatment Conservative and lifestyle smoking and alcohol cessation indication initial management monitoring indication to assess recurrence Surgical and interventional surgical removal indication for small and clinically nonhomogenous lesions Complications Recurrence Squamous cell carcinoma Prognosis May recur or progress to squamous cell carcinoma desipite surgical removal