Erythroplakia is described as which of the following?

• A. Red patch in the oral mucosa
• B. White plaque that cannot be rubbed off
• C. A red patch in the oral mucosa
• D. A salivary gland disorder

Answer: (C)

Erythroplakia presents as a red patch on the oral mucosa. It’s typically flat or velvety in appearance and stands out because of its color, unlike white patches that you might see with leukoplakia. The red area often signals thinning of the epithelium with more visible blood vessels, and erythroplakia has a higher risk of dysplasia or carcinoma, so such patches should be biopsied to assess for premalignant or malignant change. It most commonly appears on places like the floor of the mouth, tongue, or soft palate. In contrast, a white plaque that cannot be rubbed off describes leukoplakia, and a salivary gland disorder would present with different signs such as swelling or gland dysfunction rather than a red mucosal patch.