Pathology · single question
A patient is a heavy smoker with a WHITE LESION on the soft palate. What is the MOST LIKELY diagnosis?
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Correct answer: C. Nicotinic stomatitis (stomatitis nicotina)
✓ C) Nicotinic stomatitis is the MOST LIKELY diagnosis for a heavy smoker with white palatal lesion.
Nicotinic stomatitis (stomatitis nicotina): caused by heat and chemicals from pipe/cigar/cigarette smoking. Appearance: diffuse keratosis of hard palate with multiple red dots (inflamed minor salivary gland orifices) surrounded by white/gray background. It is a REACTION pattern, not a precancerous lesion per se. However, reverse smokers (where lit end is inside mouth — common in some countries) DO have malignant potential. SCC would be irregular, ulcerated, firm. Pleomorphic adenoma = on hard palate, firm mass, unilateral.
Nicotinic stomatitis (stomatitis nicotina): caused by heat and chemicals from pipe/cigar/cigarette smoking. Appearance: diffuse keratosis of hard palate with multiple red dots (inflamed minor salivary gland orifices) surrounded by white/gray background. It is a REACTION pattern, not a precancerous lesion per se. However, reverse smokers (where lit end is inside mouth — common in some countries) DO have malignant potential. SCC would be irregular, ulcerated, firm. Pleomorphic adenoma = on hard palate, firm mass, unilateral.