THE IMPORTANCE OF DENTAL CARE IN PATIENTS WITH PROLIFERATIVEÂ VERRUCOUS LEUKOPLAKIA: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW
Abstract
Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (PVL) is a rare and aggressive variant of oral leukoplakia characterized by multifocal involvement, recurrent behavior, and high malignant transformation potential. This study aimed to synthesize evidence regarding the epidemiological profile, clinical characteristics, and neoplastic progression of PVL in the oral cavity, as well as to discuss the role of the dental surgeon in the diagnosis and follow-up of affected patients.  This integrative review was conducted using the PubMed, Virtual Health Library (VHL), and SciELO databases, covering studies published between 1980 and 2025 in Portuguese and English. Studies with confirmed PVL diagnosis and essential clinical information were included, resulting in a final sample of 6 articles and 10 clinical cases. The mean age observed was 66.8 years, with equal distribution between sexes. The most affected sites were the gingiva and buccal mucosa, frequently showing multifocal and bilateral patterns. Only one patient was an active smoker, reinforcing the weak association between tobacco use and PVL. Malignant transformation occurred in 30% of cases, progressing to verrucous carcinoma or oral squamous cell carcinoma. Surgical removal was the main therapeutic approach, although associated with high recurrence rates. It was concluded that PVL represents an important diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, requiring continuous clinical surveillance, multiple biopsies, and rigorous long-term follow-up due to its unpredictable behavior and high malignant potential.Â
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