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An Unusual Treatment of Oral Lichenoid Reaction without Cutaneous Involvement: A Case Report

SUMMARY Panagiotis Kafas1, Christos Stavrianos2, Nikolaos Angouridakis3, Kosmas Manafis4 Oral lichenoid reaction is a clinical entity characterized by 1Aristotle University, School of microscopic features of hypersensitivity due to foreign body or contact Department of Dentoalveolar Surgery and Radiology, Thessaloniki, Greece reaction. It is usually presented in the cheek mucosa after chronic contact 2Aristotle University, School of Dentistry Department of Endodontology irritation from various materials used in dentistry. Amalgam restoration Thessaloniki, Greece 3 of tooth cavities has been used for many decades. This filling material is Aristotle University, School of Medicine Department of Head and Neck Surgery occasionally suspected for chronic epidermal reactions in the oral cavity. Thessaloniki, Greece 4General Hospital of Kavala This article discusses the reason of choosing an unusual treatment option Department of Pathology, Kavala, Greece without pharmaceutical use that found to be successful. CASE REPORT (CR) Keywords: Oral Lichenoid Reaction, Tooth Extraction, Amalgam Filling Balk J Stom, 2010; 14:37-40

Introduction components of the amalgam filling, but according to the evidence, this technique had many limitations6. Lichenoid reaction in oral cavity is an immunological In our case, a lady was presented in the clinic condition usually associated to delayed hypersensitivity complaining of painless on the buccal mucosa when a metallic tooth restoration appeared to be in lateral to the lower right third molar. A discussion on the chronic contact to the oral mucosal surface1. The management of this case will be addressed with a great diagnosis of this usual condition should be based on emphasis on the decision making. clinical examination and histopathological evaluation. Since it is a disease of the mucosa, usually of limited size, the partial biopsy technique could be a non-aggressive Case Report diagnostic method, including only a thin portion of healthy and diseased tissue. This is usually difficult in A 48-year-old lady presented with painless inexperienced surgeon hands in which case the examined cheek erythro- adjacent to the lower right tissue should be wider. third molar. It could be described as a unilateral, non The implication of metals in the origin of the reticulated, well circumscribed, oval lesion with mixed lichenoid reaction has been adjusted from scientific white and red patches, like erythroleukoplakia (Fig. 1). sources1-5. Mercury, included in higher concentration The tooth 48 was restored with amalgam filling 2 years in amalgam fillings compared to other components, ago due to caries. The patient was otherwise fit and is suspected as the primary etiological factor of this healthy. She was occasionally smoking cigarettes for 15 contact reaction3. An alloy mixed with amalgam is years (2-5 cigarettes per day) without drinking alcohol. usually composed of silver, tin, copper, and sometimes No pathology wasobserved on head and neck inspection smaller amounts of zinc, palladium, or indium. Therefore and palpation. There were not other signs of pruritic, the hypersensitivity may be found to one of those purple or polygonal papules on other body sites. The components, which may be difficult to evaluate. Recently Koebner phenomenon was negative. No Wickham’s striae the patch test to specific components has been used found. Not known allergies reported. The full blood count for evaluation of hypersensitivity reaction to specific was found normal. 38 Panagiotis Kafas et al. Balk J Stom, Vol 14, 2010

The patch test was not used in our case since this technique is controversial and not evidence-based for oral lichenoid reactions. Furthermore in our case there was nothing to serve in management protocol. A written consent form was filled and signed, explaining the advantages and disadvantages of the available treatment options. It was finally decided to extract the lower right third molar (Fig. 3). 6 weeks after extraction, the mucosa almost appeared healthy with normal colour without white or red patches (Fig. 4). After this observation, the patient is followed-up semi-annually.

Figure 1. Mixed white and red patches, like erythroleukoplakia, due to the mucosal contact Reaction

A biopsy specimen was taken under local infiltration (2% lidocaine with 1:80000 adrenaline). The specimen (0.7cm x 0.3cm x 0.2cm) was stored in 10% buffered formalin for 48 hours and processed for histopathology. In the centric area the epithelium presented hyperplastic with parakeratotic features without atypic mitotic signs, but with sort “axe” like projection of the chorium into epithelium. The presence of massive lymphocyte infiltration occurred in areas of chronic inflammatory reaction in submucosa in the region of dermo-epidermal junction. The associated basal keratinocytes showed degeneration, necrosis and squamatization. Cluster of Figure 3. The associated tooth extracted. The extended amalgam filling Civatte bodies presented in the papillary and reticular was observed regions of the chorium. The previous micro-findings revealed the diagnosis of chronic superficial mucosal lichenoid reaction of possible hypersensitivity reaction to amalgam filling (Fig. 2).

Figure 2. Microscopic examination was compatible to chorium changes Figure 4. The follow-up revealed the successive treatment of buccal due to allergic reaction (HE x 20) without peroral medication Balk J Stom, Vol 14, 2010 Possible Treatment of Oral Lichenoid Reaction 39

Discussion disease, , , should be definitely involved in the field of Tooth extraction is a mechanical process of pulling differential diagnosis8-10. the tooth out of the socket. This process should be Oral lichenoid reactions are potentially malignant performed in cases where other treatment options are not requiring proper management and regular follow available or are contraindicated. This opinion is stated ups to evaluate possible transformation to oral malignancy due to functional and aesthetic reasons. In our case, in early stages11. This finding should create a scientific the third molar was partially out of the occlusion due to debate based on the benefits of radical treatment, such anatomical position in the arc, providing partial functional as tooth extraction. In our case, there was no scepticism considerations. Furthermore, there were no aesthetic about the final treatment in full cooperation with the reasons against the decision due to posterior location. patient. Finally, the patients should be encouraged to cease The recommended treatment option of filling smoking as it could affect the prognosis. replacement with rubber dam and topical application of medicaments or rinsing solutions was rejected by the patient. The other option of crown preparation was rejected by the clinical team due to difficulties in Conclusion preparation if the tooth is encircled by a rubber dam. We recommended rubber dam to avoid contact of cut We suggest the extraction of teeth that associated filling with other sites of . Furthermore, the with oral lichenoid reactions without cutaneous gastrointestinal and respiratory system would be protected involvement and functional or aesthetic implications from a complication, such as swallow or aspiration should be included as an alternative management of amalgam sections or air-borne particles created by in addition to the well established, up to date filling handpiece. According to toxicology evaluation of the replacement. Verbal information and written consent form literature there is disputing evidence for the toxicity about the procedure are required prior to the extraction. of amalgam vaporization due to various mandibular We have to keep in mind that the patient is cooperating in functions7. The patient decided to extract the tooth cases where “must” is dissimilar from “need’. without steroids application or use of other medication. A written consent form was filled and kept in patients file. Aknowledgements. We thank the patient for the consent form Oral lichenoid reaction could be divided into 2 given for publishing the manuscript. types. The first should be described as foreign body reaction due to chronic entrapment of amalgam (tattoo) into the affected tissue and the other in association to contact reaction, such as in our reported case. In the References first type, the pigmented patch of the mucosa may be an important diagnostic clinical feature. A condition that 1. Savin JA. Oral . Br Med J, 1991; 302:544-545. could be assessed by x-rays to exclude the possibility 2. Segura-Egea JJ, Bullon-Fernandez P. Lichenoid reaction of non-metallic materials existence into the tissues, associated to amalgam restoration. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir such as endodontic sealants, toothpastes and impression Bucal, 2004; 9:421-424. 3. Laeijendecker R, Dekker SK, Burger PM, Mulder PG, components8. Van Joost T, Neumann MH. Oral lichen planus and allergy It is worth noting that in the literature the to dental amalgam restorations. Arch Dermatol, 2004; main management option indicated was the filling 140:1434-1438. replacement1-6. This should be strongly recommended 4. Dunsche A, Kastel I, Terheyden H, Springer IN, in cases where functional and aesthetic implications Christophers E, Brasch J. Oral lichenoid reactions presented. It is generally accepted that there should be no associated with amalgam: improvement after amalgam other available treatment option to extract a tooth under removal. Br J Dermatol, 2003; 148:70-76. an all-inclusive discussion with a patient regarding the 5. Bratel J, Hakeberg M, Jontell M. Effect of replacement of advantages and disadvantages of each technique. dental amalgam on oral lichenoid reactions. J Dent, 1996; The atrophic pattern of lichenoid reaction may be 24:41-45. observed as a desquamative lesion. Therefore all the 6. Issa Y, Brunton PA, Glenny AM, Duxbury AJ. Healing of lesions that may be presented as desquamation of the oral lichenoid lesions after replacing amalgam restorations: oral tissues, such as lichen planus, pemphigoid, chronic a systematic review. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral ulcerative , dermatitis herpetiformis, linear IgA Radiol Endod, 2004; 98:553-565. 40 Panagiotis Kafas et al. Balk J Stom, Vol 14, 2010

7. Brownawell AM, Berent S, Brent RL, Bruckner JV, Doull J, 11. van der Meij EH, Mast H, van der Waal I. The possible Gerschwin EM, et al. The potential adverse health effects of premalignant character of oral lichen planus and oral dental amalgam. Toxicol Rev, 2005; 24:1-10. lichenoid lesions: A prospective five-year follow-up study of 8. Scully C, Cawson RA. Medical Problems in Dentistry. Kent: 192 patients. Oral Oncol, 2006; 43:742-748. The Bath Press, Elsevier Limited. 2004; pp 252-253. 9. Albanidou-Farmaki E, Markopoulos A, Kayavis I. Serum Correspondence and request for offprints to: IgG subclasses in patients with oral lichen planus. Balk J Panagiotis Kafas Stom, 2005; 9:13-15. Kassandrou 3 10. Markopoulos AK, Antoniades D, Papanayotou P, Trigonidis Kavala 65403 G. : a clinical, histopathologic, and Greece immunologic study. Quintessence Int, 1996; 27:763-767. e-mail: [email protected]