leukoplakia

Or leu·co·pla·ki·a

[loo-kuh-pley-kee-uh]

noun

Pathology.

1. a disorder of a mucous membrane characterized by one or more white patches, occurring most commonly on the cheek, tongue, vulva, or penis: often medically insignificant but sometimes becoming malignant.

Word History and Origins

Origin of leukoplakia¹

1880–85; < New Latin, equivalent to Greek leuko- leuko- + plak-, stem of pláx flat surface, taken as “tongue” + -ia -ia

Example Sentences

Lula, 77, had small white patches called "leukoplakia" removed from his larynx last month, after beating President Jair Bolsonaro in an Oct.

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Doctors at Sao Paulo's Sirio Libanes Hospital, where the 77-year-old Lula was treated for throat cancer 11 years ago, said the procedure had removed small white patches called 'leukoplakia' from his vocal cords.

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Leukoplakia, also called 'smokers keratosis', can be caused by repeated injury and irritation or exposure to smoking and alcohol.

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An exam of my tongue revealed a small white spot or “leukoplakia” on the side of my tongue that I had neither seen nor felt.

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He discovered leukoplakia, a typically benign condition characterized by white patches, in Weller’s larynx.

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