It is a descriptive clinical term for any white, non-detached white plaque that cannot be categorized as a clinical condition based on any clinical or histopathological criteria.
In terms of etiology, many factors have been implicated in the development of such lesions, most notably smoking and consuming alcohol.
The lesion shows a high rate of malignant transformation in squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth estimated to be between 4-6 %.
Regarding treatment, the cessation of any possible contributing factors to the condition, as well as the elimination by various therapeutic means of any intraoral lesions and regular monitoring are the best possible treatment for patients with leukoplakia.