The results were analysed by an independent statistician using SPSS 17. The results were cross tabulated and the Chi-squared statistic was used to test for differences in the case-mix.
Homogenous leukoplakias were identified in 31 patients, non-homogenous leukoplakias in 34 patients, whereas 12 patients had erythroplakias. Ex- and lifelong smokers formed 88.3% of the recruited patients. While people who currently smoke and drink formed 55.8% (43 patients) of the cohort. Erythroplakias were solely identified in heavy lifelong smokers. The most common identified primary anatomical locations were the lateral border of tongue, floor of mouth and buccal mucosa. Moderate dysplasia was identified in 42 patients while 18 patients had severe dysplasias.
Laser resection margins in selected cases (68 patients) were clear in 53 and showed mild-moderate dysplasia in the involved margins. The rate of recurrence had no significant association with the location or the severity of epithelial dysplasia. The rate of first recurrence in laser surgery was approximately 19.5%. Malignant transformation was observed in 8 patients (10.4%), in the tongue and the floor of mouth. Recurrence and malignant transformation was mainly identified in erythroplakias and non-homogenous leukoplakias.