[Lichen planus with esophageal involvement]

Abstract

Lichen planus is an inflammatory disease of unknown etiology which may affect the esophagus. Patients with esophageal lichen planus are usually elderly women. The most frequent symptoms are dysphagia and odynophagia. There is usually concomitant oral involvement in cases of esophageal lichen planus. Endoscopic findings include erosions, exudates and stenosis. Systemic steroids are the most effective therapy for these patients. We report a 68-year-old woman with oral, genital and submammary lesions of lichen planus of nine months duration, that referred dysphagia and odynophagia. The endoscopic study revealed white plaques and areas of friable mucosa without stenosis. Histological findings were not conclusive but excluded changes due to fungal or reflux esophagitis. Biopsy of oral and cutaneous lesions showed typical features of lichen planus. Treatment with systemic steroids significantly improved the symptoms.