Severe vulvar scarring in patients with erosive lichen planus: a report of 4 cases.
BACKGROUND
Oral lichen planus (LP) is thought to affect 1% of the population. It is an autoimmune inflammatory disease process with varied clinical manifestations. Glabrous skin scarring is rare, but that of mucosal membranes may be more common than recognized. It has been estimated that 25% of patients with oral lesions also harbor genital lesions.


METHODS
We report 4 cases of LP with genital involvement treated at various stages of development. Severe mucosal scarring occurred, and vulvovaginal scarring commonly resulted in significant dyspareunia.


CONCLUSIONS
Early and aggressive diagnosis and therapy may abrogate the scarring potential of this debilitating disease process.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
René
R
Genadry
Thomas T
TT
Provost
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002921:Cicatrix; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology