Esophageal Lichen Planus as a Cause of Dysphagia: Literature Review and Clinical Observation

Aim: to analyze the literature data, and to raise awareness of doctors of various specialties about the methods of diagnosis and treatment of esophageal lichen planus (ELP).Key points. In a 67-year-old female patient with complaints of difficulty swallowing solid food and weight loss, esophagogastro...

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Main Authors: A. I. Dolgushina, E. R. Olevskaya, A. O. Khikhlova, A. A. Saenko, S. U. Belousov
Format: Article
Language:Russian
Published: Gastro LLC 2023-11-01
Series:Российский журнал гастроэнтерологии, гепатологии, колопроктологии
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Online Access:https://www.gastro-j.ru/jour/article/view/771
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author A. I. Dolgushina
E. R. Olevskaya
A. O. Khikhlova
A. A. Saenko
S. U. Belousov
author_facet A. I. Dolgushina
E. R. Olevskaya
A. O. Khikhlova
A. A. Saenko
S. U. Belousov
author_sort A. I. Dolgushina
collection DOAJ
description Aim: to analyze the literature data, and to raise awareness of doctors of various specialties about the methods of diagnosis and treatment of esophageal lichen planus (ELP).Key points. In a 67-year-old female patient with complaints of difficulty swallowing solid food and weight loss, esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed subcompensated stenosis of the middle third of the esophagus and signs of fibrinous esophagitis. Based on the characteristics of the endoscopic picture and the detection of apoptotic Ciwatt bodies in esophageal biopsies, a diagnosis of ELP was established. Treatment with glucocorticosteroids led to relief of symptoms and positive endoscopic dynamics. ELP is rare and the least studied, data on this disease in the literature are presented mainly in the form of clinical observations and analysis of series of cases. Typical clinical manifestations include dysphagia and odynophagia. Despite the low prevalence, ELP can be associated with serious complications: stenosis and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Endoscopic examination reveals characteristic signs in the esophagus: swelling, thickening and increased vulnerability of the mucosa, often with fibrin, formation of membranes and strictures. The histological picture is represented by epithelial dyskeratosis with exfoliation, lichenoid lymphocytic infiltration. The most specific histological sign is the presence of apoptotic Civatte bodies. Recommendations for the treatment of ELP are limited to the results of a series of clinical observations and include the prescription of systemic corticosteroids. The issue of supportive therapy is the least studied.Conclusion. Analysis of the literature data and the clinical case demonstrate that lichen planus of the esophagus is one of the rare causes of dysphagia. Characteristic endoscopic and histological signs are key for the diagnosis. The management of patients with esophageal lichen planus is insufficiently defined and today includes taking of glucocorticosteroids, endoscopic dilation of stricture and dynamic endoscopic observation, given the high risk of squamous cell carcinoma in this category of patients.
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series Российский журнал гастроэнтерологии, гепатологии, колопроктологии
spelling doaj-art-6045e31b67e04cc488edc93cf0a76ccd2025-02-10T16:14:38ZrusGastro LLCРоссийский журнал гастроэнтерологии, гепатологии, колопроктологии1382-43762658-66732023-11-01334768410.22416/1382-4376-2023-33-4-76-84561Esophageal Lichen Planus as a Cause of Dysphagia: Literature Review and Clinical ObservationA. I. Dolgushina0E. R. Olevskaya1A. O. Khikhlova2A. A. Saenko3S. U. Belousov4South Ural State Medical UniversitySouth Ural State Medical University; Chelyabinsk Regional Clinical HospitalSouth Ural State Medical University; Chelyabinsk Regional Clinical HospitalSouth Ural State Medical UniversityChelyabinsk Regional Clinical HospitalAim: to analyze the literature data, and to raise awareness of doctors of various specialties about the methods of diagnosis and treatment of esophageal lichen planus (ELP).Key points. In a 67-year-old female patient with complaints of difficulty swallowing solid food and weight loss, esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed subcompensated stenosis of the middle third of the esophagus and signs of fibrinous esophagitis. Based on the characteristics of the endoscopic picture and the detection of apoptotic Ciwatt bodies in esophageal biopsies, a diagnosis of ELP was established. Treatment with glucocorticosteroids led to relief of symptoms and positive endoscopic dynamics. ELP is rare and the least studied, data on this disease in the literature are presented mainly in the form of clinical observations and analysis of series of cases. Typical clinical manifestations include dysphagia and odynophagia. Despite the low prevalence, ELP can be associated with serious complications: stenosis and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Endoscopic examination reveals characteristic signs in the esophagus: swelling, thickening and increased vulnerability of the mucosa, often with fibrin, formation of membranes and strictures. The histological picture is represented by epithelial dyskeratosis with exfoliation, lichenoid lymphocytic infiltration. The most specific histological sign is the presence of apoptotic Civatte bodies. Recommendations for the treatment of ELP are limited to the results of a series of clinical observations and include the prescription of systemic corticosteroids. The issue of supportive therapy is the least studied.Conclusion. Analysis of the literature data and the clinical case demonstrate that lichen planus of the esophagus is one of the rare causes of dysphagia. Characteristic endoscopic and histological signs are key for the diagnosis. The management of patients with esophageal lichen planus is insufficiently defined and today includes taking of glucocorticosteroids, endoscopic dilation of stricture and dynamic endoscopic observation, given the high risk of squamous cell carcinoma in this category of patients.https://www.gastro-j.ru/jour/article/view/771dysphagialichen planusstenotic lesion of the esophagus
spellingShingle A. I. Dolgushina
E. R. Olevskaya
A. O. Khikhlova
A. A. Saenko
S. U. Belousov
Esophageal Lichen Planus as a Cause of Dysphagia: Literature Review and Clinical Observation
Российский журнал гастроэнтерологии, гепатологии, колопроктологии
dysphagia
lichen planus
stenotic lesion of the esophagus
title Esophageal Lichen Planus as a Cause of Dysphagia: Literature Review and Clinical Observation
title_full Esophageal Lichen Planus as a Cause of Dysphagia: Literature Review and Clinical Observation
title_fullStr Esophageal Lichen Planus as a Cause of Dysphagia: Literature Review and Clinical Observation
title_full_unstemmed Esophageal Lichen Planus as a Cause of Dysphagia: Literature Review and Clinical Observation
title_short Esophageal Lichen Planus as a Cause of Dysphagia: Literature Review and Clinical Observation
title_sort esophageal lichen planus as a cause of dysphagia literature review and clinical observation
topic dysphagia
lichen planus
stenotic lesion of the esophagus
url https://www.gastro-j.ru/jour/article/view/771
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