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Encyclopedia of Pathology pp 1–4Cite as

Oral Lichen Planus

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Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Pathology ((EP))

Synonyms

Lichenoid mucositis

Definition

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting stratified squamous epithelia of unknown cause. However, immune deregulation, specifically involving the cellular arm of the immune system, seems to play an important role in the pathogenesis of OLP. Cell-mediated immunity (by CD8+ T cells), possibly initiated by endogenous or exogenous factors, results in production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and keratinocyte/T cell/antigen-presenting dendritic cell associations. An association with viral infections, such as herpes simplex, Epstein–Barr virus, human papilloma virus, and hepatitis C has been suggested (Lodi et al. 2005a; Ganesh et al. 2018).

Approximately, 15% of patients with OLP develop cutaneous lesions. These cutaneous lesions develop within several months after the appearance of the oral lesions. The most frequent extraoral site of OLP is the genital mucosa in females.

OLP presents...

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References and Further Reading

  • Daniels, T. E., & Quadra-White, C. (1981). Direct immunofluorescence in oral mucosal disease: A diagnostic analysis of 130 cases. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, and Oral Pathology, 51, 38–47.

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  • Eisen, D., Carrozzo, M., Bagan-Sebastian, J. V., & Thongprasom, K. (2005). Mucosal diseases series, number V. Oral lichen planus: Clinical features and management. Oral Diseases, 11, 338–349.

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  • Eisenberg, E. (2000). Oral lichen planus: A benign lesion. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 58, 1278–1285.

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  • Enomoto, A., Sato, E., Yasuda, T., Isomura, T., Nagao, T., & Chikazu, D. (2018). Intraepithelial CD8+ lymphocytes as a predictive diagnostic biomarker for the remission of oral lichen planus. Human Pathology, 74, 43–53.

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  • Ganesh, D., Sreenivasan, P., Öhman, J., Wallström, M., Braz-Silva, P. H., Giglio, D., Kjeller, G., & Hasséus, B. (2018). Potentially malignant disorders and cancer transformation. Anticancer Research, 38, 3223–3229.

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  • Lodi, G., Scully, C., Carrozzo, M., et al. (2005a). Current controversies in oral lichen planus: Report of an international consensus meeting. Part 1. Viral infections and pathogenesis. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontics, 100, 40–51.

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  • Lodi, G., Scully, C., Carrozzo, M., et al. (2005b). Current controversies in oral lichen planus: Report of an international consensus meeting. Part 2. Clinical management and malignant transformation. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontics, 100, 164–178.

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  • van der Waal, I. (2009). Oral lichen planus and oral lichenoid lesions; a critical appraisal with emphasis on the diagnostic aspects. Medicina Oral, Patología Oral y Cirugía Bucal, 14, E310–E314.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Jacqueline E. van der Wal

Authors
  1. Jacqueline E. van der Wal
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jacqueline E. van der Wal .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. NIJMEGEN, The Netherlands

    J.H.J.M. van Krieken

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van der Wal, J.E. (2018). Oral Lichen Planus. In: van Krieken, J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Pathology. Encyclopedia of Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28845-1_736-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28845-1_736-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-28845-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-28845-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

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