Oral lichen planus in Sri Lankan patients

A clinicopathological study of premalignant lesions of the mouth was done in the Department of Pathology from 1990 to 1995. There were 60 patients diagnosed as oral lichen planus in this study. The patients came from all provinces of Sri Lanka, but 40% were from the Western Province. The majority (82%) clinically presented as white patches or white linear conditions. 8% had red and white patches. Another 6% had erosive lesions. 4% had pigmented patches. 85% of the lesions occurred in the buccal mucosa, and another 7% occurred in the tongue. Another 8% occurred in areas such as palate, gingival mucosa, lip, and palate.