RESUMEN
Lichen planus is a chronic papulosquamous eruption of the skin, scalp, nails, and mucous membranes. "Pruritic, purple, polygonal, planar, papules, plaques" are the traditional six "P's" of lichen planus. We describe an unusual case of lichen planus presenting as cellulitis. A 64-year-old lady with a past medical history of pyoderma gangrenosum, inclusion body myositis, and chronic kidney disease presented with a two-week history of swelling, erythema, tenderness, hyperkeratotic plaques, and blisters on the medial aspect of both thighs. She had a previous history of pyoderma gangrenosum exacerbations with similar presentations; however, current lesions were different from prior presentations. We considered the differential diagnoses of bacterial cellulitis versus pyoderma gangrenosum exacerbation. Due to the difference in these lesions from previous episodes, the patient was empirically treated for bacterial cellulitis with intravenous cefepime and linezolid. The infectious diseases team was consulted and valacyclovir was added to cover for possible herpes infection, with no improvement in symptomatology. Dermatology was then consulted, and a clinical diagnosis of psoriasiform dermatitis was made. A skin biopsy was obtained and the patient was started on prednisone. There was an immediate improvement in the papules within 24 hours. The papules cleared, leaving behind violaceous flat plaques, clinically diagnosed as lichen planus. The affected area was shrinking as compared to previous examinations. The skin biopsy was reported as chronic psoriasiform dermatitis with the main differential of lichen planus. The patient was discharged home on a tapering dose of oral prednisone, topical clobetasol, and oral moxifloxacin. This case demonstrates the importance of familiarity with rare clinical subtypes as a suspicion for lichen planus. The vesiculobullous subtype of lichen planus, as seen in this patient, tends to present as blisters and cellulitis from infection of the bullae. Treatment of the infection alone is not enough and steroids are essential. This knowledge helps change management, allows for earlier improvement and better patient outcomes.
RESUMEN
Lichen planus is a chronic lichenoid dermatosis commonly encountered by dermatologists worldwide, affecting skin, mucosa, and scalp. The current case describes a rare variant of lichen planus, plantar lichen planus, in a 17-year-old male who presented with erythematous scaly plaques on the sole for two years associated with walking discomfort. The lesion was subjected to skin biopsy and a diagnosis of lichen planus was made considering the histopathological and clinical findings. Plantar lichen planus can often be misdiagnosed. Treating plantar lichen planus can be a therapeutic challenge and, thus, more insight is needed regarding treatment protocol or outcome of such cases.
RESUMEN
El liquen plano oral es una enfermedad crónica mucocutánea de etiología autoinmune que afecta principalmente a mujeres entre 40 y 50 años de edad. Una de sus variantes clínicas e histopatológicas se denomina liquen ampollar, considerado como liquen atípico. Clínicamente se manifiesta como ampollas que se rompen fácilmente causando excesivo dolor. Se presenta a la consulta una paciente de 60 años refiriendo dolor urente en fondo de surco próximo a molares inferiores del lado derecho y en el lado izquierdo en la zona de molares superiores. Manifestó ardor en la superficie lingual causándole dificultad para hablar y alimentarse. Presentaba lesiones blancas y rojas extendidas por toda la mucosa bucal. El estudio clínico e histopatológico a través de biopsia constató la presencia de un liquen ampollar. Se inició el tratamiento obteniéndose resultados satisfactorios en las primeras semanas y se indicó iniciar un tratamiento multidisciplinario con dermatólogos y psicoanalistas.
Lichen planus is a chronic mucocutaneous disease of self-immunological etiology that primarily affects women between 40 and 50 years old. One of its clinical and histopathologic variants is called bullous lichen planus, considered an atypical lichen. Clinically it manifests as blisters that break easily causing excessive pain. A 60 year-old female patient attended medical consultation with a main complain of burning pain in the vestibular sulcus next to right lower and left upper molars. The burning sensation on the lingual aspect caused difficulties during speaking or eating, as referred by the patient in the anamnesis. Accompaning white and red lesions spread throughout the oral mucosa. Both clinical examination and histopathological biopsy confirmed the pathological findings. A multidisciplinary treatment approach -with dermatologist and pschycoanalist- was established in the following weeks with satisfactory results.
