Lichen nitidus

Skin inflammatory (nontumor)
Lichenoid and interface reaction patterns
Lichen nitidus

Author: Mowafak Hamodat, M.D., MB.CH.B, MSc., FRCPC (see Authors page)

Revised: 15 October 2018, last major update August 2011

Copyright: (c) 2002-2018, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.

PubMed Search: Lichen nitidus

Page views in 2018: 2,659

Page views in 2019 to date: 190

Table of Contents

Definition / general | Clinical images | Microscopic (histologic) description | Differential diagnosis | Additional references

Cite this page: Hamodat, M. Lichen nitidus. PathologyOutlines.com website. http://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/skinnontumorlichennitidus.html. Accessed January 21st, 2019.

Definition / general

Children with asymptomatic, pinpoint, round, flesh-colored papules on trunk, genitalia, abdomen and forearms
May co-exist with lichen planus

Clinical images

Images hosted on other servers:

Tiny papules

Microscopic (histologic) description

Epidermis has parakeratosis and atrophy; clawlike pattern of curvilinear, fingerlike extensions and surrounding papillary dermal lymphocytic and histiocytic infiltrate
Occasionally multinicleate giant cells and parakeratosis; variable dyskeratotic keratinocytes at dermoepidermal junction; minimal lichenoid change

Differential diagnosis

Lichen planus: has orthohyperkeratosis and acanthosis with sawtooth pattern; positive direct immunofluorescence

Additional references

eMedicine