title: Thorough clinical evaluation of skin, as well as oral, genital and anal mucosa is beneficial in lichen planus patients.
abstract: Lichen planus (LP) is a common mucocutaneous disease of unknown aetiology with various geographical prevalence, may be related to some serious disorders such as squamous cell carcinoma and often remains underdiagnosed. The aim of this retrospective study was to thoroughly determine localization and clinical characteristics of LP lesions in a cohort of 173 Slovenian patients in association to the presence of accompanying symptoms and history of potential stressful events. Isolated cutaneous lesions of LP were found in 56.6% and isolated oral LP in 3.5% of patients. Thirty-four percent presented orocutaneous LP, whereas genitocutaneous LP was noted in 1.2%, orogenito-cutaneous LP in 4% and orogenital LP in 0.5% of patients. Underlying stressful events were noted in 36 out of 137 (26.3%) patients. Despite obviously visible localization of the lesions various medical specialists should be familiar with LP and thoroughly examine the complete skin, as well as oral, genital and anal mucosa in each LP patient to avoid a delay in diagnosing this disease and possibly disclose a much serious underlying condition. Psychological support should be offered, if needed.
authors.affiliation: University of Ljubljana, Institute of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Larisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stojanovic
authors.forename: Tomaz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lunder
authors.forename: Ksenija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rener-Sitar
authors.forename: Bostjan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mlakar
authors.forename: Mojca
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maticic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*