Metastases in small thickness oral squamous-cell carcinoma arising in orallichen planus

Citation
Md. Mignogna et al., Metastases in small thickness oral squamous-cell carcinoma arising in orallichen planus, MED ONCOL, 18(2), 2001, pp. 159-163
Citations number
27
Categorie Soggetti
Oncology
Journal title
MEDICAL ONCOLOGY
ISSN journal
13570560 → ACNP
Volume
18
Issue
2
Year of publication
2001
Pages
159 - 163
Database
ISI
SICI code
1357-0560(2001)18:2<159:MISTOS>2.0.ZU;2-Y
Abstract
Oral lichen planus (OLP) is classified among precancerous conditions, as it is considered a generalized state associated with a significantly increase d risk of cancer. The objective of this study was to discuss ultrastructura l aspects of OLP that could play a role in enhancing metastatic potential, thus worsening the prognosis in oral squamous-cell carcinoma (OSCC). We rep ort four cases of microinvasive OSCC which have occurred in OLP patients. A ll of them were stage I tumors, with a mean thickness of 1.75 mm. Recent st udies indicate a tumor thickness over 4 mm as predictive of nodal metastase s, but within 6 mo, our four patients with OSCC arising from OLP developed lymphnodal metastases. Our findings suggest that OLP-related OSCC may have a worse prognosis because of increased metastatic potential; obviously, fur ther investigation is required, but this preliminary evidence emphasizes th at extremely careful management of OLP patients is mandatory, and in cases of OSCC arising from OLP, a more radical treatment is probably required.