SEM analysis of oral lichen planus before and after treatment with 13 cis-retinoic acid.

Cancer of the oral cavity is a frequent worldwide neoplasia, averaging 4% in men and 2% in women. Cancer of the oral cavity is often preceded by particular epithelial lesions, called precancerous lesions. The aim of this study is to evaluate, by SEM microscope analysis, before and after treatment with 0.1% 13-cis-retinoic, the morphostructural variation of the surface of the oral mucous affected by lichen planus in respect to healthy oral mucous. Following topical therapy with 0.1% 13-cis-retinoic acid for 8 weeks, a restoration of the physiological morphostructure was observed by SEM, demonstrating the efficaciousness of the treatment and the SEM analysis for identifying the lesions of oral epithelium.