Squamous epithelial carcinoma at the site of lichen ruber hypertrophicus of the glans penis

Reports of cancer development in lichen planus mostly concern the oral erosive form. The reported frequency of malignant transformation ranges between less than 1% and 10%. There have been a few isolated observations of malignant transformation of cutaneous lichen planus. In these cases, the hypertrophic type located on the lower limbs predominated. We report an unusual case of squamous cell carcinoma developing on the glans penis in the presence of hypertrophic lichen planus. Systemic treatment of the lichen planus with dapsone, retinoids, corticosteroids and topical cyclosporin A failed to prevent this development.