Clinical and Histopathological Findings in 26 Patients with Oral Lichenoid Lesions

Lichen planus is an immunologically mediated disease that causes degeneration of keratinocytes in the oral mucosa. Lichenoid lesions are a group of lesions with different etiologic factors and similar clinical and histopathological features. This study was done for evaluation of clinical and histopathological findings and the frequency of idiopathic lichen planus among patients with oral lichenoid lesions who referred to Babol dental faculty. This cross-sectional study was performed on the 26 patients affected by oral lichenoid lesions who referred to oral disease department of Babol dental faculty, Babol, Iran during 2007-2009. All patients were examined about some determinants such as age, sex, skin lesion affecting, systemic disease, drug usage, kind and location of lesions. The mean age of the patients was 42.8±12.4. 30.8% (8 cases) of population were men and 69.2% (18 cases) were women. Fourth, fifth and sixth decades were the most commonly affected decades. 46.2% (12) of patients had systemic disease and 3 (11.5%) of patients had a skin lesion. Fourteen (53.8%) of patients use drug for systemic disease. Nineteen (73%) of patients reported exact time for duration of lesions. The most common affected area was buccal mucosa and the most common lesion that reported was reticular type. Four (15.4%) of patients showed dysplasia on their oral lesions. Due to higher incidence of oral lichenoid lesions in 30 year old to 60 year old women, clinical examination of oral mucosa must be considered in middle aged women. Also considerable percentage of dysplastic changes in oral lichenoid lesions reveals that these patients must be followed up