Palmoplantar psoriasis: A clinicopathological correlation in a tertiary care hospital

Palmoplantar psoriasis is a clinical variant of psoriasis characterized by well-defined erythematous desquamating plaques on palms and soles, which may or may not include pustules. Hyperkeratotic lesions of palm and sole commonly include Psoriasis, Eczema and Tinea. These conditions often present with overlapping clinical and histopathological features requiring clinicohistopathological correlation for a conclusive diagnosis. The presence of munro's microabscess or spongiform pustule of kogoj differentiates psoriasis of palm and sole from other hyperkeratotic lesions of palm and sole. The objective of this study was to study the clinical and histopathological profile of palmoplantar psoriasis and correlate clinical diagnosis with histopathological diagnosis.

A hospital-based, descriptive study was conducted from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020. Fifty-two patients were clinically diagnosed as palmoplantar psoriasis with or without involving other parts of body and routine histopathological evaluation was carried out as per standard protocols.

Clinically diagnosed 52 cases of palmoplantar psoriasis showed varied histopathology with hyperkeratosis (100%), parakeratosis (100%), regular acanthosis (75%), Supra-papillary thinning (44.2%), spongiosis (65.4%), tortuous vessels in the papillary dermis (78.8%) and mixed inflammatory infiltrates (predominantly lymphocytic-100%), which were observed to be prominent findings in skin biopsies of our patients. Clinicopathological correlation was achieved in 88.5% of cases.

This study shows clinically diagnosed palmoplantar psoriasis with histopathological features consistent with palmoplantar psoriasis in 88.5% cases. Thus, clinically inconclusive hyperkeratotic lesions with palmoplantar psoriasis can be diagnosed with histopathological correlation improving the therapeutic intervention.