Which statement about Oral Hairy Leukoplakia is true?

• A. It is a cancerous lesion.
• B. It is caused by herpes simplex virus.
• C. It can be scraped off.
• D. It is not considered cancerous.

Answer: (D)

Oral hairy leukoplakia is a benign white plaque on the lateral tongue that appears in people with immune suppression, most notably HIV infection, and is produced by Epstein-Barr virus. A key point is that it is not cancerous and does not undergo malignant transformation. It cannot be scraped off with a tongue blade, which helps distinguish it from candidiasis, where patches can often be wiped away. Recognizing this lesion as a marker of immune status is important; treatment focuses on improving immune function, and antiviral therapy may help if immune suppression is corrected.