Issue Two 2026
2026, Vol. 13, issue 2
Original Article
Oral leukoplakia classification and staging system: A literature review and evaluation of its prognostic value
Abstract:
The classification and staging system of oral leukoplakia (OL) is a useful tool for standardizing the
staging of oral leukoplakia cases. Studies investigating its prognostic value have shown promising
results. In the present study, we investigated the prognostic value of the oral leukoplakia staging system,
staging 58 cases of OL out of a total of 221 cases with oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs). The
results found a trend towards an increasing risk of OL malignancy with higher stages of OL, confirming
the statistical significance of the association between stage IV and a higher risk of malignancy. The study
confirms the negative influence of the higher stage of OL on the occurrence of malignant transformation,
confirming the clinical usefulness within the diagnostic algorithm of OL cases.
Keywords: Leukoplakia, Staging, Classification, Prognostic value, Malignant transformation
Authors:
Samuil Dzhenkov; Department of Dental, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria. Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital "Alexandrovska", Sofia, Bulgaria.;Konstantin Stamatov; Department of Dental, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria. Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital "Alexandrovska", Sofia, Bulgaria.;
Pavel Stanimirov ; Department of Dental, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria. Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital "Alexandrovska", Sofia, Bulgaria.;
