Hairy leukoplakia
Benign lesion on the side of the tongue due to Epstein-Barr virus / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Hairy leukoplakia is a white patch on the side of the tongue with a corrugated or hairy appearance. It is caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and occurs usually in persons who are immunocompromised, especially those with human immunodeficiency virus infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). The white lesion, which cannot be scraped off, is benign and does not require any treatment, although its appearance may have diagnostic and prognostic implications for the underlying condition.
Hairy leukoplakia | |
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Other names | Oral hairy leukoplakia,[1]:ā385ā OHL, or HIV-associated hairy leukoplakia[2] |
Specialty | Gastroenterology, dentistry |
Depending upon what definition of leukoplakia is used, hairy leukoplakia is sometimes considered a subtype of leukoplakia, or a distinct diagnosis.[3]