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Oral Lichen Sclerosus: A Rare Case Report and Review of the Literature

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Abstract

Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic inflammatory mucocutaneous disease that often affects the anogenital area and causes significant discomfort and morbidity. Oral mucosal lesions in LS are extremely rare and might be associated with genital and/or skin manifestations. As a unique manifestation of LS, oral lesions are even more rare, with only 20 cases reported in English-language literature. In reviewing that literature in this paper, we present the case of a 44-year-old white man who sought dental assistance with a complaint of a white spot on his upper lip. Extraoral clinical examination revealed a slight white macule on the left upper lip vermilion next to the labial commissure. Intraoral examination revealed that the macule was approximately 3.5 × 2.0 cm, extended to the upper left labial mucosa, and presented an ivory-white color. Following an incisional biopsy and microscopy, the lesion was shown to be covered by a stratified squamous epithelium showing hyperkeratosis and atrophy. The superficial lamina propria revealed a well-marked band of subepithelial hyalinization and, below it, a band-like mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate. Sections stained by Verhoeff’s technique revealed a scantiness of elastic fibers in the superficial lamina propria. The diagnosis of LS was then established. The patient was referred for dermatologic evaluation, which identified no skin or genital lesions, and no treatment was employed. After 6 years, no significant changes in clinical features were observed. Altogether, this rare case makes an important contribution to knowledge on this uncommon condition.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Capes), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG). Dr. RS Gomez is research fellow of CNPq, and H. Marangon-Júnior has received a CAPES Fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Oral Pathology Division, School of Dentistry, Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Avenida Dom José Gaspar, 500, Prédio 46, Sala 101, Coração Eucarístico, Belo Horizonte, MG, 30535-901, Brazil

    Helvécio Marangon Júnior, Paulo Eduardo Alencar Souza & Martinho Campolina Rebello Horta

  2. Periodontology Division, School of Dentistry, Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Rodrigo Villamarim Soares

  3. Department of Oral Surgery and Pathology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Ricardo Santiago Gomez

  4. Private Practice, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Gustavo Henrique de Mattos Pereira

Authors
  1. Helvécio Marangon Júnior
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  2. Paulo Eduardo Alencar Souza
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  3. Rodrigo Villamarim Soares
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  4. Ricardo Santiago Gomez
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  5. Gustavo Henrique de Mattos Pereira
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  6. Martinho Campolina Rebello Horta
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Correspondence to Martinho Campolina Rebello Horta.

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Marangon Júnior, H., Souza, P.E.A., Soares, R.V. et al. Oral Lichen Sclerosus: A Rare Case Report and Review of the Literature. Head and Neck Pathol 11, 212–218 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12105-016-0766-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12105-016-0766-x

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