Risk of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in One Hundred Patients with Oral Lichen Planus: A Follow-Up Study of Umberto I University Hospital of Rome

Gianluca Tenore; Ahmed Mohsen; Federica Rocchetti; Giulia Rossi; Andrea Cassoni; Andrea Battisti; Marco Della Monaca; Cira Rosaria Tiziana Di Gioia; Francesca De Felice; Andrea Botticelli; Valentino Valentini; Carlo Della Rocca; Marco De Vincentiis; Antonella Polimeni; Umberto Romeo

doi:10.3390/cancers15113004

Cancers (May 2023)

Risk of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in One Hundred Patients with Oral Lichen Planus: A Follow-Up Study of Umberto I University Hospital of Rome

Gianluca Tenore,
Ahmed Mohsen,
Federica Rocchetti,
Giulia Rossi,
Andrea Cassoni,
Andrea Battisti,
Marco Della Monaca,
Cira Rosaria Tiziana Di Gioia,
Francesca De Felice,
Andrea Botticelli,
Valentino Valentini,
Carlo Della Rocca,
Marco De Vincentiis,
Antonella Polimeni,
Umberto Romeo

Affiliations

Gianluca Tenore: Head and Neck Tumor Board, Umberto I University Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Ahmed Mohsen: Head and Neck Tumor Board, Umberto I University Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Federica Rocchetti: Head and Neck Tumor Board, Umberto I University Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Giulia Rossi: Head and Neck Tumor Board, Umberto I University Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Andrea Cassoni: Head and Neck Tumor Board, Umberto I University Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Andrea Battisti: Head and Neck Tumor Board, Umberto I University Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Marco Della Monaca: Head and Neck Tumor Board, Umberto I University Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Cira Rosaria Tiziana Di Gioia: Head and Neck Tumor Board, Umberto I University Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Francesca De Felice: Head and Neck Tumor Board, Umberto I University Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Andrea Botticelli: Head and Neck Tumor Board, Umberto I University Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Valentino Valentini: Head and Neck Tumor Board, Umberto I University Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Carlo Della Rocca: Head and Neck Tumor Board, Umberto I University Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Marco De Vincentiis: Head and Neck Tumor Board, Umberto I University Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Antonella Polimeni: Head and Neck Tumor Board, Umberto I University Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Umberto Romeo: Head and Neck Tumor Board, Umberto I University Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15113004
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 15, no. 11
p. 3004

Abstract

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This study aims to retrospectively assess the potential risk of malignant transformation in patients with diagnosed oral lichen planus (OLP) between 2015 and 2022, and to evaluate the influence of different risk factors. The department’s database and medical records from 2015 to 2022 were searched for patients with a confirmed diagnosis of OLP based on both clinical and histological parameters. A total of 100 patients (59 females and 41 males) were found with a mean age of 64.03 years. In the considered period, the percentage of diagnosed OLP patients was 1.6%, while the percentage of diagnosed OLP patients with transformation to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) was 0.18%. A statistically significant difference was found with age (p = 0.038), tobacco status (p = 0.022), and radiotherapy (p = 0.041). The analysis revealed the presence of significant risk in ex-smokers (>20 pack-years), with an odds ratio (OR) of 10.0000 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.5793–63.3186); in alcohol-drinker patients, with an OR of 4.0519 (95% CI 1.0182–16.1253); in ex-smoker and alcohol-drinker patients, with OR of 17.6250 (95% CI 2.2464–138.2808); and in patients who had undergone radiotherapy, with OR of 6.3000 (95% CI 1.2661–31.3484). The malignant transformation of oral lichen planus was slightly higher than thought, and the results revealed a possible association with age, tobacco and alcohol status, and history of radiotherapy. An elevated risk of malignant transformation was observed in heavy ex-smoker patients, alcohol-drinker patients, and alcohol-drinker patients with a history of smoking (ex-smokers). Persuading the patient to quit tobacco and alcohol consumption and periodic follow-ups are recommended in general, but particularly in the presence of these risk factors.

Published in Cancers

ISSN: 2072-6694 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cancers/

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