Pediatric lichen nitidus: A single‐center experience

Abstract

Objective

Lichen nitidus (LN) is an uncommon inflammatory skin eruption. The present study aims to describe a case series of children with LN seen at a tertiary‐care health center.

Methods

Retrospective study of 17 children with biopsy‐proven LN between January 2007 and March 2017. Data related with epidemiologic, clinical, and histopathologic characteristics were recorded.

Results

The mean age for the onset of LN was 9 years (range: 5‐17 years), and the mean duration of the skin lesions was 13 months (range: 1‐48 months). Fifteen were boys (88.2%). Seven children had a generalized form of LN (41.1%) and of these, two children had severe pruritus (11.8%). Seven children had a history of co‐morbid skin conditions (41.1%), including lichen planus in one patient (5.9%), lichen striatus in one patient (5.9%), psoriasis and longitudinal ridges in the nails in one patient (5.9%), and cutaneous features of atopic skin in four patients (23.5%). All of the reviewed patients had lymphohistiocytic infiltration in the dermis and basal vacuolar degeneration. Multinucleated giant cells were present in 11 (64.7%).

Conclusion

This case series found LN in a generalized form as well as other concurrent dermatologic conditions in nearly half of those reported. The boy predominance was also noteworthy.

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