Oral lichen sclerosus-a review of clinical presentation, treatment, and clinical outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the disease involvement, treatment and response, and malignant potential of oral lichen sclerosus (LS).

STUDY

DESIGN

We conducted a review of the literature of 37 cases of oral LS. We looked specifically for the following data: patient demographic characteristics, disease involvement, treatment, response to treatment, duration of follow-up, symptoms, risk factors for oral malignancy, and malignant transformation.

RESULTS

The most common area of oral involvement included the labial mucosa (67.6%). Of patients with oral LS, 38.5% reported symptoms, and 35.1% exhibited extraoral manifestations. Patients were less likely to receive treatment when asymptomatic (62.5%) than when symptomatic (80%). Topical steroids were more efficacious (66.7%) compared with other treatments. Risk factors for malignancy were found in 25% of patients. No patient had malignant transformation of oral lesions at follow-up (mean follow-up 22.1 months; median 12 months).

CONCLUSIONS

More data and longer follow-up are required to determine the long-term clinical outcomes of oral LS.