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05:42
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Published on: August 11, 2023
Oral lichen planus and malignant transformation: a longitudinal cohort study
Gian Paolo Bombeccari1, Gianpaolo Guzzi, Mauro Tettamanti
1Unit of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Department of Reconstructive and Diagnostic Surgical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. gpbombeccari@libero.it
Summary
Oral lichen planus (OLP) significantly increases the risk of developing oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Regular monitoring of OLP patients is crucial for early detection and management of OSCC.
Area of Science:
- Oral Medicine
- Oncology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory condition with a known association with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
- Understanding the precise incidence and risk factors for malignant transformation in OLP is critical for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively assess the incidence of malignant transformation of oral lichen planus (OLP) into oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) over a 7-year period.
- To evaluate the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) for OSCC in OLP patients and identify potential demographic risk factors.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 327 adult patients diagnosed with oral lichen planus (OLP).
- Patients were followed for a mean duration of 81.7 months to monitor for the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
Main Results:
- Eight out of 327 OLP patients developed OSCC in OLP-affected areas, resulting in an annual incidence of 0.36% and a high overall standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of 17.7.
- The SIR for OSCC was significantly higher in women (27.0) compared to men (11.2).
- Most OSCCs were well-differentiated (75%), with a 37.5% recurrence rate within 2 years.
Conclusions:
- Oral lichen planus (OLP) is associated with a substantially increased risk of malignant transformation to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
- Close and regular surveillance of OLP patients is recommended to reduce the morbidity associated with OSCC development.
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