Can you explain the clinical presentation of oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL) and whether it is associated with pain or other symptoms before it appears? Also, can OHL simply disappear even if a person is ... Leukoplakia is a precancerous condition, that is, the stage before cancer development of the mouth.

Understanding the Context

It leads to thick white patches on the gums, inner cheeks, tongue, lower lip, and bottom of the ... Nature: Esophageal leukoplakia or epidermoid metaplasia: a clinicopathological study of 18 patients Oral leukoplakia is a relatively common, painless disorder of the oral mucosa. It predominantly affects middle-aged to elderly men and has a strong association with tobacco smoking and alcohol intake. Another possibility, a longshot, is the English expression hairy at the heel, common in the late 19th century.

Key Insights

A horse with hair about the heels or fetlocks was an underbred one, so the expression was used figuratively for an ill-bred, bad-mannered, thoroughly unpleasant person, as was hairy.