Comparative Study of Histopathological Patterns and Mast Cells in Cutaneous Lichen Planus and Lichenoid Lesions

  • Balasubrahmaniyam Priya Postgraduate, Department of Pathology, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital, Puducherry, India.
  • T.B. Uma Devi Professor and Head, Department of Pathology, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital, Puducherry, India.
  • Karthikeyan K Professor and Head, Department of Dermatology, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital, Puducherry,India.
  • Mourouguessine Vimal Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital, Puducherry, India.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21276/apalm.2049
Keywords: Lichenoid reaction, Lichen planus, Interface dermatitis, Mast cells.

Abstract

Background Besides lichen planus various other skin lesions like erythema multiforme, pityriasis lichenoides, etc., show lichenoid reaction pattern.  This study was aimed to compare the    histological features   and   number of mast cells in cutaneous lichen planus and lichenoid lesions.  Studies have shown increase in mast cell numbers in mucosal lichen planus and lichenoid lesions.  Methods Tissue sections of lichen planus and lichenoid lesions, (forty samples for each group) were studied.  All the epidermal,  dermal  changes  and  mast  cell  numbers  were  noted. Results Epidermal  and  dermal  changes  like  acanthosis,  hypergranulosis, hyperkeratosis, location  of   inflammatory  cells,  severity  of  inflammation  and  basement  membrane  thickness were statistically significant between the two groups.  Cases  with  severe  inflammation  showed  thin  and  disrupted  basement  membrane,  severe  capillary  proliferation  and  severe  basal  cell  vacuolation.  The  number  of   mast  cells  was  not  significant  on  comparison  between  the  two  groups. Conclusion The  epidermal  and  dermal  changes  were  consistent  with  usual  histopathological  findings  in  these lesions. The  mast  cell  number  was  not  significant  on  comparison,  which  may  be  due  to  the  common  and  overlapping  mechanisms  in  the  pathogenesis  of  inflammation  in  both  the  groups.

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Published
2018-09-26
Issue
Vol 5 No 9 (2018)
Section
Original Article

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