Oral leukoplakia in adolescents: Report of a rare case and review of the literature

The aim of this report was to describe a rare case of leukoplakia in a young patient without any risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma. An 18-year-old male patient presented with an asymptomatic white lesion on the right lateral border of the tongue. Microscopic examination of the excisional biopsy specimen displayed hyperkeratosis and acanthosis without epithelial dysplasia, which were consistent with the clinical diagnosis of oral leukoplakia. The patient is undergoing systematic and regular evaluation, and after 28 months of follow-up, no recurrence has been observed. This report showed that, although uncommon, adolescents and/or young adults can also be affected by oral potentially malignant disorders. Therefore, dentists should be aware of this condition to establish the proper diagnosis and management.