Abstract

MALLO PEREZ, Luciano; RODRIGUEZ BACIERO, Gerardo  and  LAFUENTE URDINGUIO, Pedro. Oral precancerous lesions in the elderly with special reference to the Spanish situation. RCOE [online]. 2002, vol.7, n.2, pp.153-162. ISSN 1138-123X.

Introduction: Oral cancer incidence has been rising in recent years in westerncountries and it is well known that the early recognition of potentially malignant lesions will provide the best prognosis. Oral cancer, like most cancers, is a disease related to older age. The elderly population has been growing significantly in Spain and all the industrialized nations. Objective: Study of oral precancerous lesions in the elderly with special reference to the Spanish situation. Patient and method: Epidemiological study of a representative ramdom sample of 3282 institutionalized Spanish elderly. WHO criteria for epidemiological design and diagnostic criteria were followed. Results: The prevalence of oral leukoplakia was 2,8%, oral lichen planus figure was 1,1% and erithroplakia prevalence was 0,4%. No statistic relation according to gender, age groups or presence of dental prostheses was found. 

Keywords : Elderly; Spain; Oral precancerous lesions; Leukoplakia; Oral lichen planus; Erithroplakia.