ORAL LICHEN PLANUS AND ORAL LICHENOID LESION: A CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY

Abstract

Objective To reassess the cases diagnosed as oral lichen planus (OLP) and oral lichenoid lesion (OLL) and compare their sociodemographic and clinicopathological characteristics. Study Design Records and slides of 72 cases with diagnosis of OLP and OLL were evaluated and submitted to bivariate analysis. Results OLP prevailed (52.8%). Middle-aged, non-smoking white women with white lesions at multiple oral sites without symptomatology, were, clinically, the most affected for both lesions. In LPO, bilateral lesions showing intense lymphocytic infiltrate (IL) in band, well-defined and in the superficial portion of the connective tissue, with a hydropic degeneration of the basal layer, colloid bodies, parakeratin, hyperplastic epithelial crest, and absence of epithelial dysplasia, predominated. In OLL, isolated lesions presenting moderate to intense focal IL, with basal degeneration colloid bodies, hyperplastic epithelial crest, and epithelial dysplasia, were observed. OLP was associated with lesions that appeared bilaterally (p=0.001), well-defined IL, in band, and in the superficial portion of the connective tissue (p≤0.0001). OLL was associated with the presence of epithelial dysplasia and mild dysplasia (p≤0.0001). Conclusion Histopathology of the lichenoid IL and the presence of dysplasia alone are not sufficient for the differential diagnosis LPO and LLO; the association of clinical and follow-up data is essential. To reassess the cases diagnosed as oral lichen planus (OLP) and oral lichenoid lesion (OLL) and compare their sociodemographic and clinicopathological characteristics. Records and slides of 72 cases with diagnosis of OLP and OLL were evaluated and submitted to bivariate analysis. OLP prevailed (52.8%). Middle-aged, non-smoking white women with white lesions at multiple oral sites without symptomatology, were, clinically, the most affected for both lesions. In LPO, bilateral lesions showing intense lymphocytic infiltrate (IL) in band, well-defined and in the superficial portion of the connective tissue, with a hydropic degeneration of the basal layer, colloid bodies, parakeratin, hyperplastic epithelial crest, and absence of epithelial dysplasia, predominated. In OLL, isolated lesions presenting moderate to intense focal IL, with basal degeneration colloid bodies, hyperplastic epithelial crest, and epithelial dysplasia, were observed. OLP was associated with lesions that appeared bilaterally (p=0.001), well-defined IL, in band, and in the superficial portion of the connective tissue (p≤0.0001). OLL was associated with the presence of epithelial dysplasia and mild dysplasia (p≤0.0001). Histopathology of the lichenoid IL and the presence of dysplasia alone are not sufficient for the differential diagnosis LPO and LLO; the association of clinical and follow-up data is essential.