Leucokeratosis nicotinica palati K13.2

Gruetz 1928

Non-precancerous, exogenous-irritant callus formation of the palate in smokers.

Chronic irritant effect of distillation products in tobacco smoke.

Mostly at the hard, but also at the transition to the soft palate.

Isolated or densely packed standing, paved appearing, grey-white, coarse, nodules of 0.1-0.3 cm diameter with dented or dotted reddish centre. These can confluent to larger plaques (up to 2.0-3.0 cm). The typical, regular dot-shaped patterns of the papules or plaques correspond to the salivary gland ducts. Pipe and cigar smokers may also experience a grey-brown or brown discolouration of the keratotic plaques (so-called smoker's melanosis).

Plump regular acanthosis with orthokeratotic keratinization. No cell atypia of the surface epithelium. No polarity loss. Clear fibrosis of the lamina propria.

1. Farman AG et al (1977) Leukokeratosis nicotina glossi-smokers' tongue. Int J Oral surgery 6:340-347.
2. Rodríguez I et al (1983) Prevalence of oral leukoplakia in Havana City, Cuba. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 11:379-383.
3. Saietz L (q1975) Prevalence of leukokeratosis nicotina palati among 3,819 danes. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 3:80-85.