Association between oral leukoplakia and sex, age, and tobacco habits.

The association between oral leukoplakia and possible etiological factors in patients at a Bombay hospital was analysed by a new multivariate computer analysis based on information theory. It was found that the most important etiological factors were bidi smoking and age. The well known sex-leukoplakia relationship was found to be secondary to sex differences in tobacco habits. The topographical distribution of leukoplakias within the oral cavity was also determined mainly by tobacco habits. It was concluded that the etiological factors analysed could not fully explain the presence or absence of leukoplakia but that other factors, so far unrecognized, may also play a role.