Lichenoid keratosis

Author: Vanessa Ngan, Staff Writer, 2006. Updated by A/Prof Amanda Oakley, March 2016.

Synonyms:

Lichen planus-like keratosis, LPLK, Benign lichenoid keratosis, BLK, Solitary lichen planus, Involuting lichenoid plaque

Categories:

Tumour

Subcategories:

Atypical solar lentigo, Classic bullous or atypical subtype of lichenoid keratosis, Early interface subtype of lichenoid keratosis, Late regressed atrophic subtype of lichenoid keratosis

ICD-10:

L57.0

ICD-11:

2F21.Y

SNOMED CT:

403198004

What is lichenoid keratosis?

Lichenoid keratosis is usually a small, solitary, inflamed macule or thin pigmented plaque. Multiple eruptive lichenoid keratoses in sun-exposed sites are also described. Their colour varies from an initial reddish brown to a greyish purple/brown as the lesion resolves several weeks or months later.

Lichenoid keratosis is also known as benign lichenoid keratosis, solitary lichen planus, lichen planus-like keratosis and involuting lichenoid plaque. They are one of the causes of atypical solar lentigo.

Who gets lichenoid keratosis?

Lichenoid keratosis generally develops in fair-skinned patients aged 30–80 years. It is twice as common in females as than males. It is most commonly seen in Caucasians and rarely affects Asians, African Americans or Hispanics.

What causes lichenoid keratosis?

Lichenoid keratosis is an inflammatory reaction arising in a regressing existing solar lentigo or seborrhoeic keratosis. It is not known what causes the reaction, but triggers include minor trauma such as friction, drugs, dermatitis, and sun exposure.

Lichenoid keratoses

How is lichenoid keratosis diagnosed?

Lichenoid keratosis is diagnosed by its clinical and dermoscopic appearance, which reveals uniform clusters of grey dots and, depending on the stage of the lesion, may show signs of an original pre-existing lentigo or seborrhoeic keratosis. In time, signs of the original lesion disappear. Later on the grey dots also disappear, as the lesion resolves to reveal normal skin.

Dermoscopy of lichenoid keratoses

Because clinical examination and dermatoscopy may not be able to differentiate between lichenoid keratosis and other solitary erythematous lesions that could be melanocytic, non-melanocytic benign, malignant or inflammatory, a punch or shave skin biopsy may be necessary.

Histopathology of resembles that of lichen planus or lichenoid drug eruption, with some slight differences. Remnants of the original solar lentigo or seborrhoeic keratosis may be evident.

What are the clinical features of lichenoid keratosis?

The clinical features of lichenoid keratosis vary depending on the inflammatory stage of the lesion.

Classic, bullous or atypical subtype
Clinical features	Acute rapidly developing lesion (present for <3 months) Erythematous or pinkish papule or plaque Dermoscopy may show remnants of pigment network, subtle blotches of brown colour, clusters of grey dots plus dotted, irregular linear and other shaped telangiectatic blood vessels
Histopathology	Classic variant shows epidermal acanthosis with a band-like lichenoid lymphocytic infiltrate. Presence of epidermal parakeratosis distinguishes these lesions from typical lichen planus. Bullous variant shows intraepidermal or subepidermal bullous cavities with dense lymphocytic infiltrate and increased number of necrotic basilar layer keratinocytes. Atypical variant shows similar histology to classic type with scattered enlarged CD-3, CD-30 (+) lymphocytes with hyperchromatic, irregular nuclei.
Early or interface subtype
Clinical features	Subacute lesions present for 3 months to one year Erythematous to dusky-red or hyper-pigmented brown lesion Depending on the age of lesion, dermoscopy may show features of a solar lentigo or flat seborrhoeic keratosis with moth-eaten borders, fingerprinting, milia-like cysts, comedo-like openings, plus small foci of melanophages (grey dots).
Histopathology	Single lymphocytes aligned along the dermoepidermal junction without epidermal acanthosis and adjacent lentigo
Late regressed or atrophic subtype
Clinical features	Lesions have been present for more than one year May be violaceous (violet-coloured) papules or irregularly distributed lesions with shades of brown or grey
Histopathology	Epidermal atrophy with papillary dermal scarring, patchy lymphocytic infiltrates and melanin incontinence

Other features of lichenoid keratosis are:

A solitary lesion is present in 90% of cases of lichenoid keratosis, with other patients presenting with few to many lesions.
It is most commonly found on the upper trunk, followed by the distal upper extremities, and less commonly on the head and neck.
Size ranges from a few millimetres to one centimetre or more in size.
The skin surface may be smooth, scaly or warty.
The lesion is often symptomless or it may be itchy or have a mild stinging sensation.

What is the management of lichenoid keratosis?

Lichenoid keratosis is harmless and resolves spontaneously. If there is any doubt about the diagnosis, dermatoscopic digital images can be taken and used in follow-up a few months later.

Lichenoid keratosis can be removed if desired by liquid nitrogen, electrosurgery or curettage.

Multiple eruptive lichenoid keratoses may be effectively treated with the oral retinoid, acitretin.

To date there have been no reports of lichenoid keratosis turning into malignant skin tumours.

See smartphone apps to check your skin.
[Sponsored content]