Prevalence and Malignant Transformation Rate of Oral Erythroplakia Worldwide - A Systematic Review

Abstract Background: To determine the characteristics of oral erythroplakia (OE) on a global scale, it is important to analyse and evaluate findings from various studies conducted across multiple geographical locations. Objectives: This review was conducted to determine the prevalence and malignant transformation rate (MTR) of OE. Data Sources: A systematic search was performed to identify studies reporting the prevalence and MTR of OE across various databases – PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Elsevier and ScienceDirect without any restriction for the time of publication. Study Eligibility Criteria: This review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement guidelines, and the protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database (ID: 42023395215). Results: The prevalence rate of OE reported across the studies ranged from 0.04% to 1.14% with a mean of 0.25 + 0.002%. The MTRs reported across the studies included ranged from 2.6% to 65% with a mean of 30 ± 0.2%. Limitations and Conclusions: Based on the findings from the present review, it can be concluded that while the range of MTRs of OE varies widely across different geographical locations, the average rate can be considered 30%. The review also identified a need for conducting more studies on the prevalence rates as well as longitudinal studies assessing the MTR across different regions.