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A retrospective clinico‐pathological study comparing lichen planus pigmentosus with ashy dermatosis
Author(s) -
Cheng Hui Mei,
Chuah Sai Yee,
Gan Emily Yiping,
Jhingan Anjali,
Thng Steven Tien Guan
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
australasian journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.67
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1440-0960
pISSN - 0004-8380
DOI - 10.1111/ajd.12813
Subject(s) - dermatology , medicine , histopathology , biopsy , retrospective cohort study , pathological , pathology
Abstract Background/Objectives Controversy persists as to whether lichen planus pigmentosus and ashy dermatosis are separate clinical entities. This study was conducted to examine the clinicopathological features and treatment outcome of the two conditions. Methods A retrospective medical chart review of all patients who were diagnosed with lichen planus pigmentosus or ashy dermatosis was conducted. The information collected included the participants’ age at onset, site of onset, duration of disease, presence of precipitating factors, distribution of disease, pigmentation and presence of symptoms. In patients from whom a biopsy was taken the histopathological reports were included. Results Altogether 26 patients with ashy dermatosis and 29 with lichen planus pigmentosus were included in the study. Compared with ashy dermatosis, lichen planus pigmentosus had a more localised distribution with a preponderance for facial involvement, compared with the truncal preponderance in ashy dermatosis. Ashy dermatosis tended to have a more stable clinical course than lichen planus pigmentosus, which was more likely to wax and wane. The utility of histopathology in differentiating between the two conditions is low. Conclusion Ashy dermatosis and lichen planus pigmentosus, as defined in this study, appear to be two separate clinical entities with distinguishable clinical features and natural histories.