Oral lichen planus: a narrative review

Front Biosci (Elite Ed). 2014 Jun 1;6(2):370-6. doi: 10.2741/E712.

Abstract

Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) is a common disease of unknown aetiology affecting oral mucosae by T-cell mediated chronic inflammation. OLP diagnosis is made by evaluating both clinical and histological criteria. Pharmacological treatment is useful in symptomatic cases. Life-long clinical follow-up is essential, due to low-risk of malignant transformation. In vivo Reflectance Confocal Microscopy (RCM) offers a real-time virtual biopsy of the being tissues and does not require surgical excision nor histopathological processing. RCM was used to capture OLP lesions in order to clinically differentiate them from other clinical entities.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Autoimmunity / immunology*
  • Biological Factors / therapeutic use
  • Cyclosporine / therapeutic use
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Lichen Planus, Oral / diagnosis*
  • Lichen Planus, Oral / drug therapy
  • Lichen Planus, Oral / epidemiology*
  • Lichen Planus, Oral / etiology*
  • Lichen Planus, Oral / immunology*
  • Microscopy, Confocal / methods
  • Retinoids / therapeutic use*
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology*
  • Tacrolimus / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Biological Factors
  • Retinoids
  • Cyclosporine
  • Tacrolimus