Oral Pathology: Immunologic, Premalignant, and Malignant Mucosal Lesions

Comprehensive set of 55 vocabulary flashcards covering immunologic, premalignant, and malignant mucosal lesions from the oral pathology lecture.

Autoimmune Disease

A condition in which the body's immune system attacks its own tissues and organs (e.g., Rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus, Psoriasis, Type 1 Diabetes).

Immunologic

Conditions related to autoimmune or

hyper-immune reaction to known or

unknown stimuli

Apthous Ulcer

Also known as a canker sore; a painful oral ulcer that affects nonkeratinized tissue in unattached areas $99\%$ of the time.

Minor Apthous Ulcer

A common form of apthous ulcer that heals without scarring.

Major Apthous Ulcer

A severe form of apthous ulcer that heals with scarring, also known as Sutton Disease.

Sutton Disease

Another name for Major Apthous Ulceration.

Behcet's Syndrome

A multisystem vasculitis that causes apthous-type ulcers of the oral and genital areas, as well as inflammation of the eye (bilateral uveitis), joints, and central nervous system.

Minor Canker Sores

Canker sores accounting for about $80\%$ of cases, characterized by small round or oval ulcers less than $1\,\text{cm}$ in diameter with a grayish or white center surrounded by a red ring, healing without scarring in 7–10 days.

Major Canker Sores

Canker sores representing $10\%-15\%$ of cases, larger than $1\,\text{cm}$ in diameter, occurring in clusters of 1–3, persisting for more than 4 weeks, and potentially causing scarring.

Herpetiform Canker Sores

The least common type of canker sore, featuring a cluster of small sores that merge into a large, irregularly shaped ulcer, typically healing without scarring in 7–14 days.

Erythema Multiforme (EM)

An inflammatory disease occurring often on the lips but capable of appearing anywhere on skin and mucosa, classified into minor and major forms.

Minor Erythema Multiforme

A form of Erythema Multiforme associated with Herpes Simplex hypersensitivity.

Major Erythema Multiforme

A form of Erythema Multiforme associated with drug sensitivity, also known as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

Another name for the major form of Erythema Multiforme, managed with self-limiting, palliative care, and corticosteroids.

Angioedema

An allergic reaction to a drug or food characterized by diffuse swelling of the lips, neck, or face.

Wegener's Granulomatosis (GPA)

An allergic reaction to an inhaled antigen affecting the lungs and kidneys (leading to renal failure), affecting 3 in 100,000 individuals.

Strawberry Gingivitis

A characteristic clinical oral manifestation of Wegener's Granulomatosis (GPA) affecting the gingival tissues.

Wegener's Granulomatosis Treatment

Medical therapy for GPA consisting of corticosteroids (prednisone) and cyclophosphamide.

Lichen Planus

A chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disease affecting the skin, nails, hair, and mucous membranes, caused by T-cell destruction of basal keratinocytes.

Wickham Striae

Characteristic persistent white keratotic striae seen clinically in Lichen Planus.

Reticular Lichen Planus

The more common clinical subtype of Lichen Planus featuring characteristic Wickham Striae.

Erosive Lichen Planus

A painful form of Lichen Planus presenting with Wickham Striae and red ulceration, carrying a slightly increased risk of carcinoma ($0.4\%-2.5\%$ of cases).

Sawtooth Rete Pegs

A histological feature characteristic of Lichen Planus along with basal zone vacuolization.

Discoid Lupus Erythematosus

Chronic type of Lupus Erythematosus featuring disc-like lesions on facial skin and oral lesions that mimic erosive lichen planus.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Acute form of Lupus Erythematosus involving multiple internal organs and presenting with a characteristic butterfly rash over the bridge of the nose.

Butterfly Rash

A facial rash over the bridge of the nose characteristic of systemic acute Lupus Erythematosus.

Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) Test

A diagnostic blood test that helps identify autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus, being better suited for initial diagnosis than predicting disease activity.

Scleroderma

An autoimmune condition caused by excess collagen production leading to thickening and tightening of the skin and potential involvement of internal organs (lungs, GI tract, heart, kidneys).

Raynaud's Phenomenon

A common early symptom of Scleroderma involving vasospasm in response to cold or stress.

Pemphigus Vulgaris

A rare autoimmune disorder caused by autoantibodies against desmosomes, producing suprabasilar separation, multiple painful ulcers preceded by fluid-filled bullae, and a positive Nikolsky's sign.

Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid

An autoimmune condition caused by autoantibodies against the basement membrane, resulting in subasilar epithelial separation.

Leukoplakia

A clinical description (not a definitive diagnosis) for a white patch on oral mucosa that cannot be rubbed off, requiring biopsy for evaluation.

Proliferative Verrucous Leukoplakia

A recurrent, warty oral white lesion associated with HPV 16 and 18, carrying a high risk of malignant transformation to SCC or verrucous carcinoma.

Erythroplakia

A clinical description (not a diagnosis) for a red patch appearing on oral mucous membranes (commonly inner cheeks or tongue), carrying a higher risk of malignancy than leukoplakia.

Actinic Cheilitis

A premalignant lesion of the lip caused by sun exposure and solar damage, particularly UVB radiation.

Smokeless Tobacco-Associated Lesion

A white mucosal change occurring in the oral vestibule caused by direct contact with smokeless tobacco and additives.

Carcinoma

A malignant neoplasm originating from epithelial tissues.

Sarcoma

A malignant neoplasm originating from mesenchymal or connective tissue.

Leukemia

A malignant neoplasm originating from blood-forming tissues.

Lymphoma

A malignant neoplasm originating from cells of the lymphatic system.

Dysplasia

A pre-cancerous condition defined as disordered growth and the start of a neoplasm, characterized by increased growth of immature cells and a simultaneous reduction in mature cells.

Carcinoma in Situ

A stage of cancer where all of the epithelium is affected by dysplastic changes, but cells have not invaded past the basement membrane.

Malignant Neoplasm

A true cancer established as soon as neoplastic cells invade past the basement membrane into underlying connective tissue.

Verrucous Carcinoma

A slow-growing malignancy associated with tobacco use and HPV 16 and 18, also known as Snuff Dipper's Cancer, treated by surgical excision.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)

Oral malignancy caused by oncogenes or tumor suppressor gene inactivation, with increased oropharyngeal incidence linked to HPV 16 and 18 and a 5-year survival rate of approximately $50\%$.

Plummer-Vinson Syndrome

A syndrome characterized by mucosal atrophy, dysphagia, iron deficiency anemia, and an increased risk of oral cancer.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

A skin malignancy due to sun damage that very rarely metastasizes and is one of the least dangerous cancers, treated with surgery.

Oral Melanoma

Malignancy of melanocytes

High-risk sites are palate and gingiva

5-year survival for skin lesions is greater

than 65%, but less than 20% for oral

lesions