Coexistence of oral lichen planus and vulvar lichen sclerosus

Abstract

Objective: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a mucosal variant of lichen planus. Lichen sclerosus (LS) is an inflammatory disorder with a predilection for genital skin. We aimed to identify the characteristics of patients with both mucosal diagnoses.

Study design: This retrospective study included 86 women with both OLP and vulvar LS diagnosed from June 1, 1991 through November 30, 2020 at a Mayo Clinic campus in Rochester, Minnesota; Scottsdale, Arizona; or Jacksonville, Florida. Data included treatments, other cutaneous diagnoses, comorbidities, and information on patch testing and malignant transformation.

Results: The median patient age at diagnosis was 64.5 years for OLP and 65.6 years for vulvar LS. A diagnosis of OLP before vulvar LS was most common (50.0%). The most frequently used treatment for both conditions was topical corticosteroids. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) did not develop in any patient, but vulvar SCC developed in 2 (2.3%).

Conclusions: OLP and vulvar LS may coexist, commonly beginning in the patient's seventh decade. Topical corticosteroids are often used to manage both conditions. The coexistence of both diseases did not seem to portend a greater malignancy risk.