A male patient has a white edematous lesion on his left buccal mucosa that disappears when the mucosa is STRETCHED. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Correct answer: D. Leukoedema

• A. Incorrect. Lichen planus appears as white striae (Wickham's striae), papules, or erosive lesions that do NOT disappear with stretching.
• B. Incorrect. White sponge nevus is a hereditary (autosomal dominant) condition producing thick, white, spongy, bilateral buccal mucosa lesions — they do NOT disappear with stretching.
• C. Incorrect. Squamous cell carcinoma is a persistent, non-disappearing white or red lesion that does not resolve with stretching.
• D. Correct. LEUKOEDEMA is a benign, asymptomatic, grayish-white, diffuse, filmy appearance of the buccal mucosa caused by intracellular edema of the epithelium. The pathognomonic feature is that it DISAPPEARS (becomes less visible) when the mucosa is STRETCHED. It is most common in African Americans and is a normal variant, not requiring treatment.