Diagnosis of Hairy Leukoplakia

Hairy Leukoplakia is the second most common HIV-associated oral mucosal lesions after Candidiasis. It is non malignant and is not pathognomic for HIV since other immunodeficiencies such as cancer chemotherapy are also associated with hairy leukoplakia. The common site for this condition is on the lateral borders of tongue in form of vertical white folds.

Diagnosis of Hairy Leukoplakia	Features
Provisional Diagnosis	Characteristic gross appearance with or without non responsiveness to antifungal therapy
Presumptive Diagnosis	Light microscopy of histologic sections revealing hyperkeratosis, koilocytosis, acanthosis, and absence of inflammatory cell infiltrate OR Light microscopy of cytologic operations demonstrating nuclear beading and chromatin margination
Definitive Diagnosis	Insitu Hybridisation of histologic or cytologic specimen revealing positive staining for EBV DNA OR Electron microscopy of histologic or cytologic specimen showing herpes-like particles OR Epstein-Barr Virus was demonstrated with polymerase chain reaction technique.