Tongue

Oral Hairy Leukoplakia

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Oral Hairy Leukoplakia, Hairy Leukoplakia

  • See Also
  1. Tongue Disorder
  2. Tongue Mass
  • Causes
  1. Epstein-Barr Virus (Mononucleosis)
  2. Severe Immunodeficiency (including HIV)
  • Signs
  1. Vertical white, hyperkeratotic striations on Tongue appear similar to hairs
  2. Distributed over lateral dorsum of Tongue (unilateral or bilateral)
  1. Monospot
  2. HIV Test
  • Differential Diagnosis
  1. Oral Candidiasis
    1. Hairy Leukoplakia cannot be scraped from the Tongue (unlike Thrush)
  • Management
  1. No treatment needed in asymptomatic patients
  2. May respond to Antiviral Agents (may also recur after course completed)
    1. Acyclovir 800 mg 5 times daily for 1-3 weeks
    2. Ganciclovir 100 mg 3 times daily for 1-3 weeks
  3. Other treatments in refractory symptomatic cases
    1. Podophyllin Resin and Acyclovir cream
    2. Moura (2010) Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 110(5):611-7 +PMID: 20813564 [PubMed]
  • References
  1. Reamy (2010) Am Fam Physician 81(5): 627-34 [PubMed]
  2. Straub (2024) Am Fam Physician 110(5): 467-75 [PubMed]