Characteristics: deep, velvety red tissue; premalignant; half of erythroplakias are cancerous; severe dysplastic ; increased vascularity
Dental: assessed for cancer cells via biopsy; guarded, watched carefully or biopsied; brush biopsy
Treatment and Prognosis: depends on histologic diagnosis; dysplastic areas are excised, depending upon site, type, and results; radiation and chemotherapy; follow-up performed at 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month intervals