Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2026
Dermoscopy Aids in the Diagnosis of Discoid Lupus Erythematosus
Published on: May 16, 2025
A histologic review of 27 patients with lichen planopilaris
Yasmeen K Tandon1, Najwa Somani, Nathaniel C Cevasco
1Faculty of Medicine, North Eastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Rootstown, Ohio, USA.
Background:
Lichen planopilaris (LPP) is a potential trichologic emergency that can result in permanent scarring alopecia. Histopathology is a key component of the diagnostic work-up.
Objective:
To identify the key histologic features that characterize LPP in order to facilitate diagnosis, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes.
Methods:
Scalp biopsy specimens from 27 confirmed cases of LPP were reviewed in a blinded fashion to determine diagnostically helpful histologic features.
Results:
Absence of arrector pili muscles and sebaceous glands, a perivascular and perifollicular lymphocytic infiltrate in the reticular dermis and mucinous perifollicular fibroplasia within the upper dermis with absence of interfollicular mucin, and superficial perifollicular wedge-shaped scarring were characterizing features.
Limitations:
Sample size was limited, given that biopsy specimens were taken from lesions at varying stages of evolution and findings vary with disease stage.
Conclusions:
This study confirms many previously reported histologic features and highlights new characterizing features of mucinous perifollicular fibroplasia.
