Is Lichen Sclerosus Cancerous?
Malignant potential difference of lichen sclerosus ( LS ) has been consider for decennary and there is no right theory whether it actually causes malignancy and if so , how . However , LS is identify as a precancerous wound by many doctors now . specially , the LS that affect the vulva and the penis has a tendency to turn into malignance .
The risk of vulval lichen sclerosus turning intocancerof the vulva is about 4 to 5 % . The risk of exposure of puzzle penile Crab is less than that , but the precise trope is not known .
The Risk Factors For Malignancy :
There are some studies done on females and males with lichen sclerosus and the risk of getting vulval cancer , penile cancer and other cancers .
Vulval Cancer
A study done from 1970 to 2014 on 7,600 female with LS with a mean follow - up 8.8 years showed that there is an increased endangerment of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma ( VSCC ) among these affected role . The hazard is about 5 % in patient who have vulval lichen induration . A 10 % of affected role in the report developed vulval carcinoma . Most of these affected role got vulval squamous cellular phone carcinoma . The risk of vulval carcinoma was especially high during the first twelvemonth of follow - up . These patients essay medical advice due to the symptoms of Crab . However , the danger of vulvar cancer among patients with LS stay lift through the whole follow - up period , suggesting a true association . The risk was high-pitched among adult female over 80 years 460/100,000 soul - years .
Another study done from 1991 to 2011 on 3038 adult female with LS showed the incidence rate of LS increase from 7.4 to 14.6 per 100,000 woman - years . The medial age at time of LS diagnosing was 59.8 years and the relative incidence of VSCC was 6.7 % . The 10 - year VSCC incidence in women with LS was link up with concurrent vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia ( VIN is a premalignant wound ) and years at prison term of lichen sclerosus was diagnosed .
Vaginal Cancer
The results are from the same written report . There is also an increased risk of gettingvaginal cancer , this was unusual as lichen sclerosus does not usually cause vaginal cancer . However there were about 4 cases in the study with vaginal malignant neoplastic disease .
Cervical Cancer
The risk of gettingcervical cancerwas cut in the study . This can be due to the fact that these patient have an impaired intimate life story because of LS affecting the normal bod of the vulva . So , these patients are less exposed to human papilloma computer virus , which is the vulgar campaign of cervical cancer . Also since LS can be precipitate by smoking these patients are not smokers which is also another peril factor for cervical Crab .
Other superfluous genital lesions were not found to be associated with malignant shift in this study .
Penile Cancer
bailiwick have bear witness that men with lichen sclerosus are at increase risk of gettingpenile cancer . The endangerment is about 2 to 12.5 % .
One study done on 86 men with penial LS from 1987 to 1997 showed five event of malignant transformation to squamous cell carcinoma ( SCC ) . From these five causa , three pillowcase were SCC , one case of in situ carcinoma / Queyrat ’s erythroplasia and one face of verrucous carcinoma . In situ carcinoma and verrucous carcinoma are also SCC , which only affect the top layer of the skin . The glans member was the plebeian website to get affected . The median onset of LS was 45 years and the maturation of Crab was at 62 years . Lag period is about 18 years .
Another subject done on 130 male affected role with LS showed 11 men with premalignant or malignant penial Crab . Out of that 7 cases were squamous electric cell carcinoma , 2 cases were verrucous carcinoma , one case with both SCC , verrucous case and the one case of carcinoma in situ . The time interval between diagnosis of LS and development of SCC was 14 to 30 years .
Conclusion
Lichen sclerosus has an increased risk of turning into malignancy over the years . The chief types of malignance seen are vulval cancer , vaginal malignant neoplastic disease in females and penile cancer in males . The peril of break vulval cancer in female with lichen sclerosus is about 2 % and the peril of penile genus Cancer risk is about 2 to 12.5 % . Many studies done over the years have shown the above mentioned figures . The risk factors for the development of carcinoma include the ulcerative lichen sclerosus , transmitted sensitivity , step-up eld , smoke and corticosteroid therapy .
Also show :
