Oral Lichenoid Disease Could Be a Warning Sign of Systemic Illness: Study Suggests

Peilin Wang, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Function Reconstruction, Tianjin, China, and colleagues revealed that certain lesion patterns corresponded with specific conditions: network-like lesions in the gingival-buccal groove were linked to thyroid disorders, lip lesions were associated with dyslipidemia, and dorsal tongue lesions were strongly connected to hyperuricemia.

The study, conducted as a retrospective cross-sectional analysis, sought to examine the clinical features of oral lichenoid disease and explore its possible links to systemic conditions.

For this purpose, the researchers conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis involving 116 patients diagnosed with oral lichenoid disease, which included 70 cases of oral lichen planus and 46 lichenoid lesions. They carefully recorded the distribution and morphological patterns of the lesions to identify any clinical trends.

The key findings of the study were as follows:

• The average age of patients was 46 years. Females made up 69.8% of the study group, while males accounted for 30.2%.
• Thyroid disorders were observed in 64.7% of the patients.
• Dyslipidemia was present in 44.0% of the cases.
• Hyperuricemia affected 36.2% of the participants.
• Hypertension was noted in 28.5% of the individuals.
• Diabetes was reported in 21.6% of the patients.
• Network-like lesions in the gingival-buccal groove showed a strong correlation with thyroid disorders.
• Lichenoid lesions on the lips were significantly linked to dyslipidemia.
• Lesions on the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the tongue, especially patchy ones on the dorsal side, were closely associated with hyperuricemia.

The study highlights a significant association between the clinical features of oral lichenoid disease and systemic conditions such as thyroid disorders, dyslipidemia, hyperuricemia, hypertension, and diabetes. The authors emphasized that specific lesion sites—such as the gingival-buccal groove, tongue surfaces, and labial mucosa—may be important indicators of underlying systemic diseases.

These findings emphasize the need for clinicians to adopt a more integrative approach when evaluating OLD patients. While the study offers valuable insights, the authors acknowledge limitations, including the modest sample size and regional focus on patients from North China. They advocate for multicenter, longitudinal studies, and international collaboration to validate and expand upon their findings.

The researchers also suggest that categorizing OLD by lesion type may help uncover more precise links to systemic health, ultimately contributing to a better understanding of the disease’s etiology and progression.

Reference:

Wang, P., Yan, P., Zhang, Y. et al. Study on the potential links between clinical features of oral lichenoid mucositis and systemic diseases. BMC Oral Health 25, 669 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-06024-z