Diode laser treatment is effective for plaque-like lichen planus of the tongue: a case report.

Lichen planus is a chronic mucocutaneous disease that often affects the oral mucosa and tongue, without involving the skin. It affects 1–2% of the general population. Its cause is unknown in most cases. It is classifiable by several clinical features. The atrophic and erosive forms may be painful. The reticular and plaque-like forms are the most common, affecting almost 60% of patients. The most frequently affected site is the tongue [1]. The diagnosis relies on clinical and histological evidence in association with direct immunofluorescence. OLP treatment depends on the related symptoms. Numerous drugs have been used with variable results, but topical corticosteroids remain the mainstay of therapy [2]. The use of laser therapies in the oral cavity has also gained acceptance for the treatment of premalignant oral lesions, such as leukoplakia. Many types of laser are now available. Mona Soliman [3] and Cafaro [4] reported using the diode laser on OLP. Here, the authors describe a case of OLP characterized by raised, plaque-like, keratotic lesions on the dorsum of the tongue that proved refractory to conventional therapy, but were effectively treated with the diode laser with no clinical evidence of recurrence 18.6 months after starting the laser treatment.