A review of the recent literature regarding malignant transformation of oral lichen planus

On the basis of a literature review of the period 1950-1976, Krutchkoff et al questioned the possible premalignant nature of oral lichen planus. Their criticism was largely based on insufficiencies of data in support of the i nitial diagnoses of the condition. In this article, a review of the literat ure from the period 1977-1999 has been described; the criteria used were th ose of Krutchkoff et al. Thirty-three (34%) of 98 reported cases were accep ted as having sufficiently documented evidence of malignant transformation of oral lichen planus. Although this percentage is somewhat higher than the percentage reported by Krutchkoff et al, there apparently remains a need f or uniformly accepted criteria to establish a firm diagnosis of oral lichen planus. Only when such criteria are available will it be possible to condu ct long-term prospective studies on the suggested possible premalignant nat ure of oral lichen planus.