Potentially malignant oral lesions in Northern Ireland: size (extent) matters

OBJECTIVES: We examined clinical parameters of patients from Northern Ireland with potentially malignant lesions (PML) to determine association with development of intraoral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). DESIGN: retrospective, cross‐sectional, population‐based, clinically validated, laboratory‐verified. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: All patients who had more than one incisional oral mucosal biopsy diagnosed from 1975–1991 were ed from a database of all PML and SCC and their clinical records and biopsies reviewed. Patients were excluded if there was prior/synchronous SCC or radiotherapy, frictional keratosis or lichen planus, missing clinical records/biopsy material or follow‐up of