A white asymptomatic fine streaking, particularly of the buccal mucosa, is found in 50% of patients with lichen planus.
All age groups can be affected (usually the onset occurs in the fifth or sixth decade) (1). It can present in several forms:
- atrophic }
- bullous } can cause mild to severe pain
- erosive }
- papular
- pigmented
- plaquelike
- reticular - most common form, usually asymptomatic - typical clinical features are represented by bilaterally located white papules that enlarge and coalesce to form reticulations, the so-called Wickham's striae
Oral lichen planus is a chronic disorder of the oral cavity that rarely undergoes spontaneous remission (5)
- affects approximately 1% to 2% of the population, mainly middle-aged adults
- women are slightly more likely than men to have this condition
- commonly affected sites are the buccal mucosa bilaterally, the borders and dorsum of the tongue, and the gingiva
- palate (either hard or soft), the lips and the floor of the mouth are rarely involved
- has a fluctuating course with apparent spontaneous exacerbations and improvements in disease activity within an individual patient
- people with OLP have an increased risk of developing oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)
Clinical appearance alone, particularly when showing the "classic" reticular form, may sometimes allow a definitive diagnosis
- biopsy of suspected oral lichen planus is prudent clinical practice
- histopathology can be subjective and non-specific - however it can be useful to exclude dysplasia and SCC
- when exclusive gingival or predominantly erosive or ulcerative lesions are present, immunological tests are warranted to achieve a proper diagnosis (4)
Oral lesions are more difficult to manage:
Troublesome oral symptoms can be treated as follows (3):
- Topical analgesia is available as a mouthwash and spray eg Difflam ®
- A number of topical anti-inflammatories can be used as a gargle for 2-4 minutes, 3-4 times a day
- Betamethasone 500 microgram soluble tablet dissolved in 10 ml of water
- Flixonase ® Nasule ® drop 400 micrograms dissolved in 10 ml of water
- Doxycycline 100 mg dispersible tablets have both anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties
- there are various methods of delivering topical steroids to the oral mucosa (e.g. lozenges, pastes) but responses are often indifferent and secondary candida infection is all too common (1,2)
- there is data that suggest that tacrolimus or pimecrolimus may have a role in the management of oral lichen planus (1)
- in patients with chronic oral lichen planus then these patients should be kept under surveillance for the development of oral cancer (1)
- very low-certainty evidence suggests that calcineurin inhibitors, specifically tacrolimus, may be more effective at resolving pain than corticosteroids (5)
Reference:
- Dermatology in Practice 2004; 12 (2): 25-6.
- Usatine R, Tinitigan M. Diagnosis and Treatment of Lichen Planus. American Family Physician. 2011 Jul1;84 (1):53-60.
- Primary Care Dermatological Society. Lichen planus (Accessed 2/9/2020)
- Dorothea C et al. Oral lichen planus. Arch Dermatol. 2007;143(4):511-515
- Lodi G et al. Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies. Cochrane Systematic Review;28 February 2020