Oral lichen planus in children: An Italian case series

Pediatr Dermatol. 2023 May-Jun;40(3):489-493. doi: 10.1111/pde.15318. Epub 2023 Apr 5.

Abstract

Oral lichen planus usually occurs in adults; there are no clear data regarding the incidence and the clinical features of oral lichen planus in children. This paper reports clinical findings, treatments, and outcomes of 13 Italian patients with oral lichen planus in childhood diagnosed between 2001 and 2021. The most common finding was keratotic lesions with reticular or papular/plaque-like patterns, confined to the tongue in seven patients. Although oral lichen planus in childhood is rare and the malignant transformation index is unknown, specialists must be aware of its characteristics and oral mucosal lesions must be correctly diagnosed and managed.

Keywords: case series; childhood; lichen ruber planus; oral lichen planus; pediatric oral lichen planus.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
  • Child
  • Humans
  • Lichen Planus* / diagnosis
  • Lichen Planus* / epidemiology
  • Lichen Planus, Oral* / diagnosis
  • Lichen Planus, Oral* / epidemiology
  • Lichen Planus, Oral* / pathology
  • Research
  • Tongue / pathology