A retrospective comparative study on clinico‑pathologic features oforal lichen planus and oral lichenoid lesions

Abstract

Introduction: Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) and Oral Lichenoid Lesions (OLLs) are clinically and histopathologically similar lesions but with different etiologies and treatment plan, thus differentiatingthese two has been the center of many researches. Studies in different populations have beenperformed on clinical and histopathologic features of OLP and OLLs. Thus aim of the present studywas to evaluate and also compare the clinical and histopathologic features of these two diseasesin a 10‑year period in Esfahan.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive–analytic study was based on retrospective survey of 232records with clinical and histopathologic diagnosis of OLP and OLLs available from archive of oralpathology, Esfahan dental school 2000-2010. Data was statistically analyzed by use of independentt‑test, Fisher exact, and Chi‑square.

Results: Involvement of lip was the only clinically significant difference between OLP and OLLs,most seen in OLLs. Band‑like inflammatory infiltrate mainly composed of lymphocyte, saw toothedrete ridges, Max Joseph space, and atrophic epithelium was significantly seen in OLP. Whilehyperkeratosis, deep connective tissue infiltrate composed of eosinophil, neutrophil, and plasmacell were seen in OLLs.

Conclusion: Involvement of lip was the only clinically significant difference between OLP and OLLs. Histopathologically strict band like infiltration, atrophic epithelium, saw toothed rete ridges,and Max Joseph space are reliable criteria for differentiation of OLP as deep connective tissueinfiltration and hyperparakeratosis are for diagnosis of OLLs.

Key Words:Clinical, oral lichen planus, oral lichenoid lesions, pathologic