Oral lichen planus and oral lichenoid lesions; a critical appraisal with emphasis on the diagnostic aspects

Abstract

Oral lichen planus (OLP) has a prevalence of approximately 1%. The etiopathogenesis is poorly understood. The annual malignant transformation is less than 0.5%. There are no effective means to either predict or to prevent such event. Oral lesions may occur that to some extent look like lichen planus but lacking the characteristic features of OLP, or that are indistinguishable from OLP clinically but having a distinct cause, e.g. amalgam restoration associated. Such lesions are referred to as oral lichenoid lesions (OLLs). The management of OLP and the various OLLs may be different. Therefore, accurate diagnosis should be aimed at.