Careers  |  Sign In  |  Register

76-Year-Old Woman with Sore Inside Lower Lip

Can you diagnose this case?

David L. Kaplan 2014 Series Editor @ University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Medicine

Signs and Symptoms

A 76-year-old woman presents for evaluation of a long-standing sore just inside her lower lip. She has been referred by her dentist. The patient is otherwise in good health and denies any exposure history.

Which of the following would you include in the differential diagnosis?

Choose one to reveal diagnosis and discussion

Leukoplakia
Squamous cell carcinoma
Contact dermatitis to oral hygiene products
Oral lichen planus
Aphthous stomatitis

Answer: A biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of oral lichen planus

See the full case at Consultant360

Although topical corticosteroids were ineffective, the patient did obtain some relief with topical tacrolimus. She received intralesional triamcinolone acetonide injections and, most recently, topical 5% dapsone was prescribed. Although topical dapsone is not indicated for lichen planus, oral dapsone has been reported to be effective in some patients.

Squamous cell carcinoma and leukoplakia are concerns; these would be ruled out by the biopsy. Aphthous stomatitis is also in the differential and would be ruled out by biopsy. Contact dermatitis would not be expected to be as focal as the lesion seen here; it would appear as a cheilitis rather than as an erosive lesion.