Diagnosis and treatment on oral lichen planus combining with esophageal lichen planus and review the related literatures

Objective To explore and report the clinical oral lichen planus (OLP) cases combining with esophageal lichen planus (ELP) , including prevalence, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. Methods Two hundred and thirty-six OLP patients with chief-compliances and symptomes such as chest discomfort, chest burning, dysphagia, poor food intake et al. were included in this study. Esophagogastroscopy and biosy were suggested and applied to find weather combining with esophageal lichen planus (ELP) after written informed consent were obtained. Standard therapy of OLP and case follow-up were applied. Results Eighteen OLP patients with combined ELP were found (7.6%, 18/236) . Dysplasia were detected in 2 cases 11.1% (2/18) and in 1 case, 5.5% (1/18) , esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was detected while the three OLP was not malignant-transformed. Conclusions Lichen planus is general condition and there is a correlation between ELP and OLP. Thus, oral medicine doctors should pay attention to the other site lichen planus lesion to detect early and hiding malignant-transformed, avoided misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis. Key words: Oral lichen planus; Esophageal lichen planus