Giovanni Lodi

Interventions for treating patients with oral leukoplakia

  • Giovanni Lodi qualified in Dentistry at the Università degli Studi di Milano in 1991
  • In 1998 he obtained his PhD from the University of London, and the same year he started to work for the oral medicine service of the dental clinic of the university hospital of Milano (Italy)
  • In 2002 he joined the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry of the Università degli Studi di Milano
  • He has published about 200 works in the field of oral medicine, evidence based dentistry and special needs.
  • He is currently:
    • Associate professor with clinical duties of the Università degli Studi di Milano (2015-)
    • Honorary senior lecturer of the Department of Oral Medicine – Eastman Dental Institute-UCL London (2004-)
    • Member of the Steering Committee of the World Workshop on Oral Medicine (2011-)
    • Editor in chief of Dental Cadmos, the most widely read Italian dental journal (2011-)
    • Editor of the Cochrane Oral Health Review Group (2013-)
    • Editor in chief of Oral Diseases (2017-)

Nationality: Italy

Scientific areas: Medicina oral, Oral medicine

16 of november, from 14h30 until 16h00

Auditório B

Conference summary

Oral leukoplakia is a relatively common oral lesion that, in a small proportion of people, precedes the development of oral cancer. Most patients affected are asymptomatic; therefore, the primary objective of treatment should be to prevent onset of cancer. In addition, because of the preventive aims of treatment, and the relatively low incidence rate of oral cancer, probably around 1-2% per year (i.e. many patients with leukoplakia receive treatment that is not necessary), one essential characteristic of treatment for patient affected by leucoplakia is safety. The different approaches proposed include surgical excision with different techniques, topical or systemic medical treatments, cessation of risk activities (smoking and alcohol) and no intervention but strict surveillance (wait and see). Unfortunately, very few sound studies which tested the effectiveness of such treatments have been performed, and at present, there is no evidence that any of the treatments proposed for people with leukoplakia can reduce the likelihood of oral cancer development.