A clinical evaluation of the efficacy of photodynamic therapy in the treatment of erosive oral lichen planus: A case series

BackgroundErosive oral lichen planus (EOLP) poses a substantial risk of malignant transformation into squamous cell cancer. The absence of established treatment gives way to alternative therapeutic strategies, including photodynamic therapy. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of PDT in the treatment of EOLP.MethodsTwelve female patients aged 63–80 with 22 OLP lesions (16 on the buccal mucosa, 6 on gingiva and tongue), underwent authors’ own PDT scheme with the use of 5% solution of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) as photosensitizer. An ALA-saturated occlusive dressing was applied directly onto a lesion and surrounding mucosa 2 h prior to illumination with a custom-made diode lamp (light of 630 nm, dose of 300 mW). After a series of 10 weekly illumination sessions the patients were monitored for 12 months.ResultsThe mean size of lesions before treatment was 1.46 cm² ± 1.44. The lesions on the buccal mucosa were smaller (1.06 cm² ± 0.98) than those on the gingiva and tongue (2.63 cm² ± 1.93). Post-treatment improvement encompassed 16 lesions, 5 of which were in remission. The mean reduction in size after 10-session therapy was 8,05%. The healing continued and further reduction in size (by 69.13%) took place during the 12-month observation: 39.62% of lesions within the buccal mucosa and full remission of all lesions on the gingiva and tongue.ConclusionsThe results suggest that PDT offers non-invasive treatment of lesions in oral mucosa and may become an alternative and complementary method to those currently in use. Further studies involving larger groups of patients should be undertaken before it becomes routine practice.