Dorsal tongue versus ventrolateral tongue leukoplakia: An anatomical perspective on clinicopathological characteristics and treatment outcomes

Abstract Background Among the risks of malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia, tongue has been identified as a high-risk site. Only little information exists on the clinicopathological characteristics and treatment outcomes specific to leukoplakia of the dorsum of the tongue. The comparison of clinicopathological characteristics of the dorsal tongue and ventrolateral tongue leukoplakia is not available in the literature. The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and treatment outcomes between dorsal and ventrolateral tongue leukoplakia. Methods The demographic data and pathological results of the patients who received carbon dioxide laser surgery for tongue leukoplakia from 2002 to 2019 were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed statistically. Results Of 144 enrolled, there were 108 males and 36 females with a mean age 52.17 ± 11.72. The follow-up time was 4.58 ± 4.53 years. Thirty patients had postoperative recurrence (20.83%). Twelve patients developed malignant transformation (8.33%). Annual transformation rate was 2.28%. In comparison of dorsal and ventrolateral tongue leukoplakia, there were no differences in the time to the development of carcinoma (2.62 ± 1.69 VS 3.98 ± 2.77 years), overall cumulative malignant transformation rates (7.50% VS 7.69%), and annual transformation rates (2.86% VS 1.93%). The prevalence of ventrolateral tongue leukoplakia is higher than the dorsal tongue leukoplakia (P < 0.001) Conclusions Dorsal tongue leukoplakia is not as frequently encountered clinically as ventrolateral tongue leukoplakia. The response to laser therapy of dorsal tongue and ventrolateral tongue leukoplakia are comparable in postoperative recurrence and postoperative malignant transformation.