The term "Hairy Leukoplakia" is a misnomer!
Oral hairy leukoplakia(OHL), first reported by Greenspan in 1984, is a white corrugated lesion primarily affecting the lateral borders of the tongue. It is the most common Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) related lesion occurring in patients with HIV/AIDS. In fact, it represents an opportunistic infection strongly associated with HIV/AIDS.
But did you know the term “Hairy Leukoplakia” is a misnomer?
If you thought oral hairy leukoplakia was another type of leukoplakia, think again. The term "hairy leukoplakia" is a misnomer. The lesion is better off not being called so, since it breeds confusion and is in no way related to the potentially malignant disorder "leukoplakia".
Oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL) is not a potentially malignant disorder. It is histologically bland and does not show dysplastic features.
OHL is a definitive/definable lesion, whereas leukoplakia is a diagnosis of exclusion (read this for more clarity on this concept).
"Greenspan lesion" is an alternate term proposed for OHL.
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I totally disagree. "Hairy leukoplakia" is, instead, an excellent name since it defines a specific disease. The bad term here is "leukoplakia", which has never been well defined (a diagnosis of exclusion? Excuse me!) White mucosal lesions should always be diagnosed with specificity, clinically and histopathologically: lichen simplex chronicus ("frictional keratosis"), lichen planus, candidiasis, hairy leukoplakia, squamous cell carcinoma(very superficial and incipient, presenting clinically as a white patch). this is the only way to provide patients with the best treatments availabe. A diagnosis of "leukoplakia" means nothing and does not indicate which treatment should be performed.