The possible premalignant character of oral lichen planus and oral lichenoid lesions: a prospective five-year follow-up study of 192 patients

Abstracts on this page have been chosen and edited by Dr Trevor Watts

Abstract

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was no higher in lichen planus (OLP) patients than in the general population, but much higher in patients with lichenoid lesions (OLL).

Main

van der Meij EH, Mast H et al. Oral Oncol 2007; 43: 742–748

Studies of malignant change in lichen planus are controversial, and there is limited evidence of such change in OLL. In this study, 67 patients with OLP and 125 with OLL were followed up for a mean 4½ yrs. Strict diagnostic criteria were applied.

In the OLL group, 4 patients developed SCC of the mucosa, but none of the OLP group did so. The incidence of OLL transformation to SCC was 0.71% per yr. From population data, the expected levels of transformation over the period were 0.017 in the OLP group and 0.028 in the OLL group. The OLL rate was therefore 142 times the expected level, and the authors advise strict monitoring of such patients.