Oral cavity & oropharynx
Infectious
Oral hairy leukoplakia
Last author update: 1 August 2012
Last staff update: 27 July 2021
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PubMed Search: Hairy leukoplakia[TI] oral cavity
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Microscopic (histologic) description | Electron microscopy descriptionCite this page: DeVilliers P Oral hairy leukoplakia. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/oralcavityhairyleukoplakia.html. Accessed December 28th, 2024.
Definition / general
- White, confluent patches of fluffy (hairy) mucosa, bilateral, along lateral tongue
- Associated with HIV+ patients (AIDS may appear within 2 - 3 years) but actually due to EBV infection
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Hyperkeratotic oral mucosa due to piling of keratotic squamous epithelium
- Cowdry type A intranuclear inclusions
- Balloon cells with margination of chromatin (nuclear beading); EBV present in clear cells of spinous layer
- Variable koilocytosis, superimposed Candida infection, without inflammatory response
Electron microscopy description
- Herpes type virions
