title: Fractal analysis of mucosal microvascular patterns in oral lichen planus: a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to assess local vascular architecture in atrophic-erosive oral lichen planus (OLP).
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the capillary structure of the oral mucosa in 31 patients with OLP and 32 healthy controls. Capillaries images were captured in vivo through a capillaroscope. We applied fractal analysis to quantify the microvasculature morphometric changes in the oral mucosa of atrophic-erosive OLP patients in terms of their fractal dimension (D).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The oral vascular networks of atrophic-erosive OLP lesions had a significantly higher D, both in buccal mucosae (D=1.167, P=.019) and in tongue (D=1.196, P=.038), compared with the control population (1.123 for both locations, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study confirms previous literature data on a close relationship between abnormal vascular architecture and atrophic-erosive OLP. Fractal analysis provided a quantitative descriptor of the complexity of the vascular patterns, which increases in the OLP samples. These data may provide new information on the OLP pathogenesis, as well as serve as morphologic quantifiers for monitoring treatment strategies.
authors: Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgical and Dental Specialties, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: Alberta.lucchese@unina2.it.
authors: Alberta
authors: A
authors: Lucchese
authors: Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgical and Dental Specialties, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors: Enrica
authors: E
authors: Gentile
authors: Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies & Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Capone
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Naples University Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors: Gionata
authors: G
authors: De Vico
authors: Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgical and Dental Specialties, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors: Rosario
authors: R
authors: Serpico
authors: Oral Pathology Unit, School of Dentistry, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England.
authors: Gabriel
authors: G
authors: Landini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017709:Fractals; D006801:Humans; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply*