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Is leukoplakia premalignant or malignant?

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Final answer:

Leukoplakia is a premalignant condition with the potential to become malignant if not properly treated. It is part of a group of lesions that show potential for developing into cancer.

Step-by-step explanation:

Leukoplakia is considered a premalignant condition, which means it is not cancerous (malignant) but has the potential to progress to cancer if left untreated. It's an example of a lesion which falls into the category of pre-malignancy, with others in this group including atypia, dysplasia, and carcinoma in situ, each representing increasing potential for development into an invasive cancer. Should leukoplakia show signs of severe dysplasia or transformation into carcinoma in situ, the risk of it becoming malignant increases, presenting a greater urgency for medical intervention.

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