EVALUATION OF FREQUENCY AND DYSPLASTIC CHANGES OF ORAL WHITE LESIONS IN ARCHIVE OF ORAL AND MAXILLOFIAL PATHOLOGY DEPARTMENT, TABRIZ, IRAN DURING 2006-2011.

White lesions of the oral cavity are important since they can be one of the manifestations of oral cancer. In addition، the most common precancerous lesions of oral cavity are white lesions. The aim of this study was determining the frequency of white lesions and rate of dysplastic changes in patients referring to Oral Pathology Department، Tabriz، Iran. In this descriptive-cross sectional study، patient records from the archive of the Oral Pathology department during 2006-2011 were reviewed for diagnosis of oral white lesions. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods، chi-square test، and t-test with SPSS 15 statistical software. In 73 of the 808 individuals (9%)، oral white lesions were detected. Buccal mucosa and tongue was the most common site; and lichen planus was the most common lesion. Dysplasia was reported in 7 cases (9. 6%) of white lesions that included 6 leukoplakia. Six squamous cell carcinoma and one verrucous carcinoma were reported. 69. 2% of dysplastic and neoplastic lesions were in the tongue. The mean age of dysplastic and neoplastic cases was higher than the others. Oral white lesions should be examined for neoplastic changes especially tongue lesions and older patients'' lesions.