Lichen Planus – A clinical and histopathological correlation

Abstract

Introduction: History and characteristic examination findings are often sufficient to diagnose cutaneous lichen planus. Although lichen planus has distinctive clinical features, the diagnosis may present a problem due to variations in clinical pattern. Skin biopsy may be useful to confirm the diagnosis and is of ten required in a typical presentation. In all cases, it is important to consider the possibility of the eruption being drug induced. Lichen planus is not an infectious disease.

Aim: Main aim of this study was to correlate clinical features with histopathologic study in all clinically diagnosed and suspected cases of lichen planus and to know its clinical and histopathological variants and assess the clinical versus the pathological agreement in diagnosis.

Materials and methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted with clinico pathological examination of skin biopsy specimens in the Department of Pathology, Vydehi institute of medical sciences and research centre over a period of 2 years between 2010–2012.

Statistical analysis: This study demonstrated no significant association between variants of LP and sex of the patient (p> 0.05) with χ2 = 5.92, 0.05< p< 0.10 using the probability level (alpha) and degree of freedom (df=1).

Results: 60 cases of lichen planus were studied. 49 cases were confirmed on histological examination.11 cases were diagnosed only on histology. Maximum number of cases occurred in the age group of 18 - 50 years.Males were affected more commonly than females.

Conclusion: The possibility of this lesion to turn malignant justifies the importance of long term follow up for patients with such disease. Clinico pathological correlation is the key to confirm the diagnosis for further patient care and treatment.