title: Lichen planus of the esophagus: what dermatologists need to know.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Esophageal lichen planus (ELP) is a rare manifestation of mucocutaneous lichen planus (LP).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to report our experience and review all cases of ELP reported in the English-language literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report our experience with 4 cases and reviewed PubMed for reports of ELP. Cases were evaluated for age of onset, sex, location of LP, relationship of the onset of ELP to extra-ELP, endoscopic findings, whether biopsy was performed, histopathology of esophageal biopsy specimens, medical history (including gastrointestinal history), development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, therapies tried, and response to treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 72 cases of ELP were studied. In all, 87% of patients were female, with a median age of 61.9 years at time of diagnosis. Dysphagia was present in 81% and odynophagia was present in 24%. Oral LP was present in 89%, anogenital/vulvar LP in 42%, and cutaneous LP in 38%. Fourteen patients developed ELP as the sole or first manifestation of LP. Proximal esophageal lesions were present in 64%, distal in 11%, and both proximal and distal in 26%. Histology was "consistent with" LP in 71%. Four patients developed squamous cell carcinoma in association with ELP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is a review of our cases and others reported in the literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ELP is underrecognized and underreported. There is often a significant delay between the onset of symptoms and the diagnosis. Malignant transformation of ELP to squamous cell carcinoma has been reported.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94115, USA. foxli@derm.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Lindy Peta
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Charles J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lightdale
authors.forename: Marc E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Grossman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003880:Dermatology / Q000379:methods; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult