This MedLibrary.org supplementary page on Lichen nitidus is provided directly from the open source Wikipedia as a service to our readers. Please see the note below on authorship of this content, as well as the Wikipedia usage guidelines. To search for other content from our encyclopedia supplement, please use the form below:
Related Sponsors
| Lichen nitidus Classification and external resources |
|
| ICD-10 | L44.1 |
|---|---|
| ICD-9 | 697.1 |
| DiseasesDB | 34283 |
| eMedicine | derm/232 |
| MeSH | D017513 |
Lichen nitidus is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology[1], characterized by 1-2mm, discrete and uniform, shiny, flat-topped, pale flesh-colored or reddish-brown papules[2][3] that may be hypopigmented in blacks, and, occasionally, minimal scaling is present or can be induced by rubbing the surface[3], a disease process that usually affects children and young adults[4], and is painless and nonpruritic, though protracted pruritus may be occur.[3][5]
Contents |
Presentation
Linear arrangements of these papules is common (referred to as a Koebner Phenomenon), especially on the forearms[2][5], but may occasionally be grouped, though not confluent, on flexural areas.[2] Generally, the initial lesions are localized, and remain so, to the chest, abdomen, glans penis, and flexor aspects of the upper extremities[6]; however, less commonly, the disease process can (1) be strictly isolated to the palms and soles[7], presenting with many hyperkeratotic, yellow papules that may coalesce into plaques that fissure[7][3] or “...sometimes a non-specific keratoderma resembling chronic eczema,”[7] or (2) become more widespread, with papules widely distributed on the body—the extensor surfaces of the elbows, wrists, and hands, folds of the neck, submammary region in females, groin, thighs, ankles, and feet[1][2]—and fusing into erythematous, minimally scaled plaques, with reddness that develops tints of violet, brown, and yellow[4][3].
Pathology
The histology of lichen nitidus is significant for a "...localized granulomatous lymphohistiocytic infiltrate in an expanded dermal papilla with thinning of overlying epidermis and downward extension of the rete ridges at the lateral margin of the infiltrate, producing a typical 'claw clutching a ball' picture...."[1]
Treatment
Generally, lichen nitidus is asymptomatic and self-limited; therefore, no treatment is required. However, if persistent pruritus is present, or the appearance “...interferes with daily activities or outlook...”[2] topical glucocorticoids may be tried. If the disease process is symptomatic, generalized and extensive, oral glucocorticoids may be indicated.[2] Other reported treatments include PUVA, UVA/UVB phototherapy[6], astemizole[1], acitretin, and etretinate.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d Al-Mutairi N, Hassanein A, Nour-Eldin O, Arun J (2005). "Generalized lichen nitidus". Pediatr Dermatol 22 (2): 158–60. doi:. PMID 15804308.
- ^ a b c d e f g Berger, Timothy G.; Odom, Richard B.; Andrews, George E.; James, William D. (2000). Andrews' Diseases of the skin: clinical dermatology. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders, 277–80. ISBN 0-7216-5832-6.
- ^ a b c d e Fitzpatrick, Thomas B.; Freedberg, Irwin M. (1999). Fitzpatrick's dermatology in general medicine. New York: McGraw-Hill, Health Professions Division, 577–81. ISBN 0-07-912938-2.
- ^ a b Soroush V, Gurevitch AW, Peng SK (1999). "Generalized lichen nitidus: case report and literature review". Cutis 64 (2): 135–6. PMID 10467510.
- ^ a b Maeda M (1994). "A case of generalized lichen nitidus with Koebner's phenomenon". J. Dermatol. 21 (4): 273–7. PMID 8056902.
- ^ a b Do MO, Kim MJ, Kim SH, Myung KB, Choi YW (2007). "Generalized lichen nitidus successfully treated with narrow-band UVB phototherapy: two cases report". J. Korean Med. Sci. 22 (1): 163–6. PMID 17297274.
- ^ a b c Thibaudeau A, Maillard H, Croué A, Belperron P, Avenel Audran M, Verret JL (2004). "[Palmoplantar lichen nitidus: a rare cause of palmoplantar hyperkeratosis." (in French). Ann Dermatol Venereol 131 (8-9): 822–4. PMID 15505553.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 12 August 2008, at 13:46.
Wikipedia Authorship and Review
Wikipedia content provided here is not reviewed directly by MedLibrary.org. Wikipedia content is authored by an open community of volunteers and is not produced by or in any way affiliated with MedLibrary.org.
Wikipedia Usage Guidelines
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article on "Lichen nitidus".
The URL for this specific entry is:
All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. (See Copyrights for details). Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.