Oral cancer development in patients with oral lichen planus.
There has been considerable controversy as to whether oral lichen planus (LP) has a premalignant potential. This study retrospectively examined the records of 241 British patients with histologically confirmed LP seen during the 10-year period 1982-92. Nine patients (3.7%) were known to have developed well-differentiated invasive carcinoma or carcinoma in situ in an area of LP. Most carcinomas at presentation were in areas of atrophic and/or erosive LP, 6 were in patients older than 65 years, and 6 were on the tongue. The results support a small but clinically important premalignant potential for LP.
Barnard
N A
NA
University Department of Oral Medicine, Pathology and Microbiology, Bristol Dental Hospital and School, England.
Scully
C
C
Eveson
J W
JW
Cunningham
S
S
Porter
S R
SR
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies