Leukoplakia is described as a white lesion of the oral mucosa that cannot be scraped off and is nearly always found on which intraoral site?

• A. Tongue
• B. Gingiva
• C. Cheek mucosa
• D. Hard palate

Answer: (A)

Leukoplakia is a white patch on the mucosa that cannot be rubbed off and is considered potentially premalignant. It tends to appear where there is a lot of chronic irritation and keratin production, and the tongue is the classic site for this pattern. The lateral borders of the tongue are particularly prone because they experience repeated friction from teeth, exposure to tobacco and other irritants, and highly keratinized mucosa in that area. While leukoplakia can occur on other intraoral surfaces like the gingiva, cheek mucosa, or hard palate, these locations are less commonly affected compared with the tongue. A patch that can be rubbed off would suggest a different condition, such as candidiasis, rather than leukoplakia.