Skin nontumor
Lichenoid and interface reaction patterns
Pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta
Last author update: 1 August 2011
Last staff update: 9 June 2022
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PubMed Search: Pityriasis lichenoides
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Microscopic (histologic) description | Microscopic (histologic) images | Additional referencesCite this page: Hamodat M. Pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/skinnontumorpleva.html. Accessed September 25th, 2023.
Definition / general
- Also called PLEVA, Mucha-Habermann disease
- Overlaps with pityriasis lichenoides chronica
- Sudden onset of crops of small, ulcerated papules on trunk
- May heal with superficial scarring resembling variola (smallpox)
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Acute lesion shows epidermal changes with much exaggerated scale; marked inter- and intracellular edema accompanied by keratinocyte necrosis and interface changes
- Exocytosis is usually prominent and intraepidermal red blood cells are characteristic
- Upper dermis is edematous and contains wedge shape of lymphocytes and histiocytes, usually perivascular, varies from sparse to dense; prominent red cell extravasation
Microscopic (histologic) images
Contributed by Gaurav Jain, M.D.
Hyperkeratosis, lymphocytic exocytosis
Apoptotic keratinocytes
Additional references
