Superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with esophageal lichen planus and esophageal epidermoid metaplasia treated with endoscopic submucosal dissection.

We present a case of a 70-year-old female patient who was initially diagnosed with oral lichen planus at a dental and oral surgery clinic. She underwent an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for further evaluation of her dysphagia. Endoscopic and histopathological examinations revealed that she had superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, coexisting with a background of esophageal lichen planus and esophageal epidermoid metaplasia. She underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection, recovering with minimal stenosis symptoms. Recent reports suggest that esophageal involvement associated with lichen planus is often unrecognized or misdiagnosed. Another esophageal disease with a similar chronic inflammatory background is esophageal epidermoid metaplasia. The coexistence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with esophageal lichen planus and esophageal epidermoid metaplasia have been reported; however, few studies with detailed endoscopic and pathologic findings are available. We present an interesting case of squamous cell carcinoma against a background of esophageal lichen planus and esophageal epidermoid metaplasia, while also considering the carcinogenic processes involved.