Frontiers in oncology
Malignant potential of oral lichen planus without epithelial dysplasia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies
By Domingues CB, Botelho J, Azul AM and 1 others.
Abstract
Introduction
Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the oral mucosa classified as a potentially malignant oral disease. However, its risk of malignant transformation remains controversial because of heterogeneous diagnostic criteria and methodologies across studies.
Objective
To assess the malignant transformation rate of non-dysplastic OLP through a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies.
Materials and methods
A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261295782). PubMed, Embase, and grey literature were searched. Longitudinal observational studies including patients with histopathologically diagnosed OLP, without epithelial dysplasia at diagnosis, and reporting malignant transformation rates were included. The review focused specifically on longitudinal evidence evaluating malignant transformation in patients meeting these eligibility criteria. Methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model.