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Background. Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a relatively common chronic inflammatory disease that usually affects middle-aged individuals and typically follows a prolonged course. It carries a higher risk of complications than its cutaneous counterpart, the most important being malignant transformation. Case report. We present the case of a 64-year-old female patient who developed oral squamous cell carcinoma at the site of a preexisting OLP lesion, and we discuss the risk factors and the mechanisms believed to be responsible for the malignant transformation of OLP, the clues for the early detection of oral cancer and the adequate management of these patients. Conclusions. The difficulty of establishing the diagnosis, the lack of preventive measures and the curative treatment for OLP make regular follow-up essential for these patients. The predisposing factors and the pathways involved in the malignant transformation of OLP lesions need to be further studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]