A CLINICAL AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY OF PITYRIASIS LICHENOIDES CHRONICA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56320/tcdlhvn.49.273Keywords:
pityriasis lichenoides chronica, PLC, clinical features, histopathologyAbstract
ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the clinical and histopathological characteristics of pityriasis lichenoides chronica (PLC).
Methods: This was a cross‑sectional observational study of 90 patients diagnosed with PLC at the National Hospital Of Dermatology & Venereology from August 2023 to August 2024. All patients underwent clinical examination, medical history taking, and skin biopsies for histopathologic assessment.
Results: The average age of the patients was 19.5 ± 12.7 years, with the youngest being 4 years old and the oldest 61 years old. The 0-20 age group had the highest proportion, with 56 patients (62.2%). There were 52 male patients (57.8%) and 38 female patients (42.2%). The average duration of illness was 6.3 ± 10.5 months, with the shortest duration being 1 month and the longest 60 months. Notably, the rate of lesions on the trunk and lower limbs was higher in children than in adults, with respective rates of 91.1% (41 patients) and 71.1% (32 patients). The most common lesions were papules (100% in children, 88.9% in adults) and scales (88.9% in children, 97.8% in adults). The most common histopathological features in the epidermis were parakeratosis (93.3%) and basement membrane liquefaction (95.5%), with no significant difference between children and adults. The proportion of dermal lymphocytic infiltration was 93.3% in children and 82.2% in adults.
Conclusions: PLC is more common seen in males and in younger individuals, predominantly in the 0–20 age group. The disease follows a chronic, prolonged course. The presentations of chronic lichenoid pityriasis are quite diverse. The condition presents with polymorphic skin lesions, including papules, scaly patches, erythematous macules, and hypopigmented patches. Lesions are most commonly distributed on the trunk, upper limbs, and lower limbs. Histologically, PLC is characterized by parakeratosis, basement membrane liquefaction, and lymphocytic infiltration in the dermis.
*Corresponding author: My Huyen Le, MD, PhD; Email: drlehuyenmy@gmail.com
Received:02/10/2024
Reviewed:19/10/2024
Accepted:12/11/2024
