A tip to diagnosis of oral lichen planus: Clinical study

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the clinical characteristics, predisposing/aggravating factors and malignant potential of oral lichen planus (OLP). Study design: Data was taken from the medical records of 116 consecutive patients referred to the Oral Medicine Department, and who were subsequently found to have clinical and usual histopathology consistent with features of OLP.Results: Reticular form was the most common clinical type seen in 64 patients (54.7%), followed by erosive in 37 (32.6%) and erythematous types in 15 (12.6%) patients. The disease caused pain, burning and other symptoms in 72 (75.7%) patients. Buccal mucosa was the chief site of involvement (n=29). Other sites involved were tongue (n=8), lips (n=21), palate (n=3) and floor of mouth (n=0). Stress, spicy foods and poor oral hygiene aggravated disease in most (n=77) of the patients. A malignant transformation rate of 0.07% was observed.