What Are the Causes of White Patches in the Throat?

Throat leukoplakia is related to several factors, such as excessive smoking and alcohol consumption; gastroesophageal reflux stimulating the throat and causing throat leukoplakia; excessive speaking or chronic inflammation causing irritation to the throat; and it can also be a precursor sign of cancer. When throat leukoplakia occurs, it is important to promptly undergo medical examination to identify the specific cause and then proceed with management and treatment.

Throat leukoplakia refers to the patchy keratosis hyperplasia of the laryngeal mucosal epithelium, often considered as a precancerous lesion, which mostly occurs in the vocal cords. It may be related to smoking, improper voice use, chronic laryngitis, and deficiencies in vitamins or trace elements. The main pathological changes include epithelial hyperplasia, incomplete keratinization of epidermal cells, inflammatory changes under the epithelium, but with intact basement membrane.

Symptoms: The main symptom is hoarseness, which worsens with the development of the lesion. White patches are visible under laryngoscopy.

Causes: It may be related to smoking, improper voice use, chronic laryngitis, and deficiencies in vitamins or trace elements.

Treatment: Avoid all factors that irritate the laryngeal mucosa, take vitamin A. This condition is a precancerous lesion, so it should be closely observed. For those who do not respond to treatment, it is best to remove the lesion under laryngoscopy or microscopy.

The main symptom is hoarseness, which worsens with the development of the lesion. Under laryngoscopy, there are slightly raised, white, flat patches with smooth surfaces located in the middle and anterior 1/3 of the vocal cord surface or its edges. The patches are localized and difficult to remove. Vocal cord movement is good.

As it can be a precancerous lesion, regular follow-up is necessary. Locally, avoid using irritating medications, and carefully remove the lesion under laryngoscopy. For cases that rapidly expand continuously, laryngeal fissure surgery may be performed.