Lichen aureus: clinicopathological features in a Chinese series

Lichen aureus (LA) is a rare variant of pigmented purpuric dermatosis. There are few Chinese cases of LA documented in the literature in English. We aimed to investigate the clinical and histopathological characteristics of LA in a series of Chinese patients. This was a retrospective monocentric study conducted in the Department of Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital. A total of 25 patients were included in the study; 15 male and 10 female patients. Unilateral distribution of the lesions was found in 88.0% of the patients, while bilateral distribution was found in 12.0%. A segmental distribution was observed in 12 patients. The most commonly involved areas were the upper extremities (n = 10; 40.0%) and lower extremities (n = 10; 40.0%). Fifteen cases (60%) presented with an inflammatory reaction pattern of a band-like lymphocytic infiltrate. Periadnexal inflammation and perineural inflammation were found in 12 patients and five patients, respectively. A segmental pattern of distribution of the lesion is very common in LA. Both upper limbs and lower limbs may be equally affected. Band-like lymphocytic infiltrate is the most common inflammatory reaction pattern. Periadnexal inflammation and perineural inflammation are relatively common in LA.