Current concepts of diagnosis and treatment of esophageal lichen planus

Esophageal lichen planus (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 odinophagia. 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 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, noncorticosteroid immunosuppressant medications. The issue of supportive therapy is the least studied.