Abstract
Objectives: There has not been a comprehensive study examining the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and histology of oral lichen planus (OLP) and oral lichenoid lesions (OLL) in New Zealand. The aim of this study was to determine the clinico-pathologic manifestation in a New Zealand population.
Methods: The study retrospectively analyzed OLP and OLL cases from the electronic database of the Oral Pathology Centre, University of Otago, that were clinically diagnosed and histologically confirmed. Their demographic, clinical, and histopathologic data were comparatively analyzed for statistical significance using Fisher's exact test and chi-square.
Results: Of all the samples received over the years 2011 to 2023, 232 were identified as OLP and 563 were identified as OLL. The patient's mean age was 45 years in OLP and 56 years in OLL, and the M:F ratio was 1:1.86 and 1:1.94, respectively. Buccal mucosa and gingiva were the most common sites involved in OLP, but in OLL, the tongue was the second most common site affected. For tongue presentation, OLP was associated with a higher frequency in the female sex, but no such sex predilection was seen in OLL, and these associations were statistically significant. The number of multiple intra-oral anatomical sites affected was higher in the OLP groups compared to OLL.
Conclusion: This is the first study to examine the relative frequency of OLP and OLL in a New Zealand population. The current data are consistent with global epidemiological data, with the exception that the female predominance was not seen for tongue OLL lesions. Accurately determining the relative frequency of OLP and OLL is crucial. This effort not only validates our current understanding of these specific lesions within the New Zealand population but also provides a robust, necessary baseline for all subsequent epidemiological and clinical studies.