Clinical features of oral lichen planus and oral lichenoid lesions: an oral pathologist's perspective

Abstract The clinicopathological features that precisely characterize oral lichen planus (OLP) and oral lichenoid lesions (OLL) still represent a challenge. The aim of the present study was to analyze, from an oral pathologist perspective, the clinical features from OLP and OLL. Specimens fullfilling the histological criteria for OLP and OLL, and also compatible with OLP (OLP-C), were selected and clinical information was retrieved from the laboratory forms. The final sample was composed by 221 cases, including 119 OLP (53.8%), 65 OLP-C (29.4%) and 37 OLL (16.7%). Females were more affected in the three groups, but the number of males was higher in OLL. Mean age was lower in OLP (52.3 years) in comparison with OLL (57.9 years) (p=0.020). Buccal mucosa and tongue involvement was more frequent in OLP; gingival involvement was uncommon in OLL. The reticular pattern was more frequently found in OLP, while the association of reticular and atrophic/erosive/ulcerated patterns was more common in OLP-C and OLL (p=0.025). In conclusion, gender and mean age of the patients, and anatomical location and clinical manifestation of OLL are different from OLP, and could help to better characterize this group of conditions. Specimens diagnosed as OLP-C showed clinical parameters close to OLP.

Resumo Os achados clinico-patológicos que caracterizam de forma precisa o líquen plano oral (LPO) e as lesões liquenoides orais (LLO) ainda representam um desafio. O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar, pela perspectiva do patologista oral, os achados clínicos do LPO e das LLO. Espécimes preenchendo os critérios histológicos para o diagnóstico de LPO e LLO, e também aqueles compatíveis com LPO (LPO-C), foram selecionados e as informações clínicas foram obtidas a partir das requisições laboratoriais. A amostra final foi composta de 221 casos, incluindo 119 LPO (53.8%), 65 LPO-C (29.4%) e 37 LLO (16.7%). As mulheres foram mais acometidas nos três grupos, mas o número de homens acometidos foi maior nas LLO. A média de idade foi menor no LPO (52.3 anos) em comparação com as LLO (57.9 anos) (p=0.020). O envolvimento da mucosa jugal e da língua foi mais frequente no LPO; o envolvimento gingival foi incomum nas LLO. O padrão reticular foi mais frequentemente encontrado no LPO, enquanto a associação dos padrões reticular e atrófico/erosivo/ulcerado foi mais comum no LPO-C e nas LLO (p=0.025). Em conclusão, o gênero e a média de idade dos pacientes, assim como a localização anatômica e a manifestação clínica das LLO são diferentes do LPO, e podem ajudar a melhor caracterizar este grupo de condições. Espécimes diagnosticados como LPO-C mostraram parâmetros clínicos mais próximos ao LPO.

Clinical features of oral lichen planus and oral lichenoid lesions: an oral pathologist's perspective.

The clinicopathological features that precisely characterize oral lichen planus (OLP) and oral lichenoid lesions (OLL) still represent a challenge. The aim of the present study was to analyze, from an oral pathologist perspective, the clinical features from OLP and OLL. Specimens fullfilling the histological criteria for OLP and OLL, and also compatible with OLP (OLP-C), were selected and clinical information was retrieved from the laboratory forms. The final sample was composed by 221 cases, including 119 OLP (53.8%), 65 OLP-C (29.4%) and 37 OLL (16.7%). Females were more affected in the three groups, but the number of males was higher in OLL. Mean age was lower in OLP (52.3 years) in comparison with OLL (57.9 years) (p=0.020). Buccal mucosa and tongue involvement was more frequent in OLP; gingival involvement was uncommon in OLL. The reticular pattern was more frequently found in OLP, while the association of reticular and atrophic/erosive/ulcerated patterns was more common in OLP-C and OLL (p=0.025). In conclusion, gender and mean age of the patients, and anatomical location and clinical manifestation of OLL are different from OLP, and could help to better characterize this group of conditions. Specimens diagnosed as OLP-C showed clinical parameters close to OLP.