Lichen ruber mucosae with esophageal involvement

The clinical course of a 50-year-old woman with oral lichen ruber planus (Irp) and prolonged dysphagia is described. The swallowing problems of this patient were related to an inflammatory lesion of the middle third of the esophagus, leading to stenosis. Distal to this area, the esophagus was covered with mucosa of the cardia type, as seen in endobrachyesophagus. Apart from reflux disease, the Irp may have accounted for the stenosis of the mid-esophagus. The mucosal lesions disappeared after administration of etretinate (Tigason). After endoscopic dilatation the patient was able to swallow normally again.