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Updated: Dec 26, 2025
Dermoscopy Aids in the Diagnosis of Discoid Lupus Erythematosus
Published on: May 16, 2025
Histiocyte-rich Discoid Lupus Erythematosus: A Peculiar Perifollicular Distribution Histologically Mimicking an
Ryan M McKee1, Amanda F Marsch1, Brian R Hinds1
1Department of Dermatology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, USA.
Abstract:
The histologic profile of discoid lupus erythematosus typically involves a vacuolar interface reaction with an associated superficial and deep perivascular infiltrate composed of lymphoplasmacytes. We present a unique case of discoid lupus erythematosus in which cluster of differentiation 68 (CD68) immunochemistry identified widely dispersed histiocytes. Few reports of histiocyte-rich cutaneous lupus erythematosus exist in the literature, and these lymphohistiocytic infiltrates, when present on the H-zone of the face, could be misconstrued as acne/rosacea. Our case demonstrates that cutaneous lupus erythematosus can present with a predominantly histiocytic infiltrate, a pattern dermatopathologists should be aware of to avoid non-recognition or misdiagnosis.
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