Oral lichenoid contact reactions may occasionally transform into malignancy

Area of Science:

• Oral pathology
• Oncology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue is a significant oral cancer.
• Lichenoid contact reaction (LCR) is an oral lesion that may precede malignancy.
• Understanding the malignant potential of LCR is crucial for early detection and prevention.

Observation:

• The study identified SCC of the tongue cases from the Swedish Cancer Registry (1995-2000).
• Oral biopsy data from 1988-1994 were cross-searched to find preceding LCR-type lesions.
• Four verified cases and additional tentative cases of LCR preceding tongue SCC were identified.

Findings:

• Malignant transformation of LCR-type oral lesions into SCC of the tongue occurs at a low incidence.
• The observed rate of malignant transformation in LCR lesions is comparable to that reported for oral lichen planus.
• This suggests LCR may share similar etiological or pathogenetic pathways with oral lichen planus regarding malignant potential.

Implications:

• LCR-type oral lesions have a low risk of progressing to squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.
• Regular monitoring of patients with LCR may be warranted, similar to those with oral lichen planus.
• Further research into the specific mechanisms of malignant transformation in LCR is needed.