Oral Lichen Planus: Diagnosis and Management

Abstract

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a rather common oral disease, mainly affecting adults, occurring more often in women than in men. The etiopathogenesis is still unclear. The diagnosis may be cumbersome, even in the presence of a biopsy. In addition, there are several lesions that may resemble lichen planus (lichenoid lesions) both clinically and histopathologically. Treatment of OLP can only be symptomatic and usually consists of topical application of corticosteroids. The disease is characterized by remissions and exacerbations and may persist in some patients lifelong. There is an ongoing debate in the literature as whether OLP is a potentially malignant disease. Because of this uncertainty, annual follow-up is advised.

Efficacy of injectable platelet‐rich fibrin in the treatment of symptomatic oral lichen planus

“…Lichen planus is a mucocutaneous chronic inflammatory immune‐mediated disease and is estimated to affect 0.5%–2% of people worldwide, with a higher prevalence in middle‐aged women (Sulewska et al, 2019). The buccal mucosa, lateral border of the tongue, and gingiva are mostly affected in the oral cavity (van der Waal, 2015). A large proportion of OLP is diagnosed with no clear symptoms, yet it may present with symptoms such as pain, burning sensation, and discomfort, which can severely compromise the patient's quality of life (Parlatescu et al, 2020).…”