Lichen planus with oesophageal involvement: A case report and review of the literature

• Published in: Digestion Vol. 65; no. 3; pp. 184 - 189
• Main Authors: MENGES, Markus, HOHLOCH, Karin, PUESCHEL, Werner, STALLMACH, Andreas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Freiburg Karger 2002; Basel S. Karger AG; Paris
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Dilatation; Esophageal Stenosis - etiology; Esophageal Stenosis - therapy; Female; Human mycoses; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Infectious diseases; Lichen Planus, Oral - complications; Lichen Planus, Oral - epidemiology; Lichen Planus, Oral - therapy; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mycoses; Mycoses of the digestive system; Prednisolone - therapeutic use; Human; Stomatology; Esophageal disease; Lichen planus; Pharynx; Esophagus; Case study; Extension; Oral cavity; Digestive diseases; ENT disease; Oral cavity disease; Pharynx disease; Bibliographic review
• ISSN: 0012-2823; 1421-9867
• DOI: 10.1159/000064939

Lichen planus is a common mucocutaneous disease of unknown aetiology. Oral disease affecting the mouth and the pharynx occurs in 30-70% of the cases. Oesophageal disease is considered to be extremely rare. The diagnosis of oesophageal involvement is often not made until complications occur. A 56-year-old woman with oral and genital erosive lichen planus for more than 4 years complained of odynophagia and dysphagia. Episodes of oesophageal bolus obstruction started 2 months earlier. Upper endoscopy revealed a high-grade concentric stenosis at 21-24 cm from the incisors. Biopsy specimens taken after bougienage showed a squamous epithelium with dense leukocyte infiltration and Civatte bodies. The bougienage led to complete relief, but due to recurrent symptomatic stenosis, endoscopic dilatation had to be performed another four times within 5 years of follow-up. Immunosuppressive therapy with systemic and local steroid application did not prevent recurrent stenosis. Patients with lichen planus should be evaluated for gastrointestinal symptoms because oesophageal involvement is a rare but severe complication leading to inflammatory stenosis. The benefit of immunosuppressive therapy in the prevention of recurrent stenosis is not established. A review of all reported cases is done with particular regard to therapy.