Introduction:

Head and neck neoplasms represent 17.6% worldwide. Cancer of the oral cavity is one of the most common that appear in this region, being 95% epidermoid carcinoma with a poor prognosis of survival because they develop from premalignant lesions dangerously asymptomatic, the reason why the precocious detection is imperative.

Objective:

Characterize potentially malignant oral disorders through epidemiological, clinical and topographical aspects in adults served at the Montalvo health subcenter.

Methods:

A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted on 99 patients treated at the Montalvo health subcentre in Ambato, Ecuador, from November 2012 to January 2013. The data were collected in the stomatological medical history, which included: general data, interrogation and physical examination of the oral cavity. The potentially malignant oral disorders considered were leukoplakia, erythroleukoplakia, erythroplasia and the palate of the inverted smoker. The descriptive statistic and the Sperman chi square statisticwast were applied. It was worked with confidentiality in the handling of the data obtained and with the authorization corresponding to the consent.

Results:

Patients over 60 years of age accounted for the most affected age group for 60.6%, with a female predominance (54.5%). The skin color did not make a significant difference. The most common disorder was leukoplakia (30%), followed by erythroleukoplakia (15%) erythroplasia (11%). 75.8% of patients had no symptoms, however 73% of injured cases had physical trauma. The most common location of leukoplakia was the mucosa of the cheek and the base of the tongue.

Conclusion:

Leukoplakia, erythroleukoplakia and erythroplasia were the most common potentially malignant oral disorders, most commonly located at the base of the tongue and mucosa of the carrillo, with predominance in patients over 60 years of age and in patients over 60 years of age and in Women.

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