Pediatric lichen nitidus: A single-center experience

Objective: Lichen nitidus (LN) is an uncommon inflammatory skin eruption. The present study aims to describe a case series of children with LN seen at a tertiary-care health center.

Methods: Retrospective study of 17 children with biopsy-proven LN between January 2007 and March 2017. Data related with epidemiologic, clinical, and histopathologic characteristics were recorded.

Results: The mean age for the onset of LN was 9 years (range: 5-17 years), and the mean duration of the skin lesions was 13 months (range: 1-48 months). Fifteen were boys (88.2%). Seven children had a generalized form of LN (41.1%) and of these, two children had severe pruritus (11.8%). Seven children had a history of co-morbid skin conditions (41.1%), including lichen planus in one patient (5.9%), lichen striatus in one patient (5.9%), psoriasis and longitudinal ridges in the nails in one patient (5.9%), and cutaneous features of atopic skin in four patients (23.5%). All of the reviewed patients had lymphohistiocytic infiltration in the dermis and basal vacuolar degeneration. Multinucleated giant cells were present in 11 (64.7%).

Conclusion: This case series found LN in a generalized form as well as other concurrent dermatologic conditions in nearly half of those reported. The boy predominance was also noteworthy.