Two cases of lichen planus in the oral cavity and laryngopharynx

Abstract

Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic inflammatory disease that frequently occurs in the oral mucosa and skin; however, it rarely occurs in the laryngopharynx. Here, we describe the cases of an 83-year-old woman (Case 1) and a 77-year-old man (Case 2) who presented with LP in the oral cavity and laryngopharynx. Both patients had erythema and erosion of the palate, pharynx, and epiglottis as well as pain during swallowing. Case 1 had airway stenosis caused by laryngopharyngeal mucosa scarring. Mucosal pemphigoid was clinically suspected in both cases; however, direct immunofluorescence findings of specimens obtained from the oral cavity and pharynx were negative. Together with the histopathological findings, we diagnosed the patients with LP. We administered topical therapy with tacrolimus (Case 1) and steroids (Case 2) for intraoral lesions. Inhaled corticosteroids were administered to the laryngopharynx by an otorhinolaryngologist at our hospital. Consequently, the patient’s symptoms alleviated. In both cases, odynophagia, erythema, erosion of the palate, and the histopathological findings of bullous LP were observed. If such findings are observed, it is necessary to consider the possibility that oral LP that is accompanied by laryngopharyngeal LP.