[Lichen striatus: evaluation of histologic criteria in 13 cases]

Lichen striatus (LS) is an uncommon dermatosis that generally affects children. Sometimes biopsy is required to assess the diagnosis. It is usually mentioned that LS has no specific histopathological criteria. Recently Gianotti et al., in 50% of the examined cases, found clues to the diagnosis. We have evaluated 13 biopsies of children affected by LS, in order to evaluate histopathological criteria to allow a diagnosis. The features nearly constantly present (12/13) in each specimen were focally band-like lymphocytic infiltrate with variable exocytosis and necrotic keratinocytes within the epidermis surrounded by lymphocytes. Epidermis hyperplasia, sometimes psoriasiform, was also present. In addition, one of remarkable the features of LS was the alignment of the infiltrate along eccrine ducts and glands and/or follicles. In 3 cases the deep lymphocytic infiltration was particularly dense. These results confirm that helpful clues to histopathological diagnosis of LS exist.