A histologic study of epithelial dysplasia in oral lichen planus.
One hundred cases of oral lichen planus were reviewed together with 100 nonspecific oral mucosal inflammatory lesions as a control group. The presence of dysplasia was noted, using well-established histologic criteria. Mild dysplasia was found in 57% of cases, moderate dysplasia in 9%, and severe dysplasia in 2% of cases. In the control group, mild dysplasia was observed in 32% of cases, moderate in 10%, and severe dysplasia was not present. It is suggested that, while mild or moderate dysplasia may not indicate precancerous potential, severe dysplasia in lichen planus may signify the development of a precancerous lesion.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011230:Precancerous Conditions; D012737:Sex Factors