Abstract

Skin disease is one of the most common human illnesses. It  pervades  all  cultures, occurs  at all  ages, and  affects  between 30%  and  70%  of  individuals, with  even  higher  rates  in  at-risk subpopulations1.

Among  the  various  skin disorders Lichen  planus  accounts  for  about 0.5  to 2.6%  of  general  population. Lichen planus is a unique, common immune-mediated inflammatory disorder that affects the skin, mucous membranes, nails, and hair. Though  this  condition  is  mostly  self-limiting, sometimes  the  patient  may  have  considerable discomfort  and  disability. The lesions may heal with pigmentary changes and scarring. Malignant transformation may occur rarely. This descriptive study, a prospective  and  retrospective  one, which includes 50  histopathologically  proven  lichen planus  cases  reported  over  a  period  of  eight years 4 months (January 2008 - May 2017). The  cases  were  taken  from  the  Pathology  registry  of Rajah Muthiah Medical College & Hospital and Rajah Muthiah Dental College & Hospital, Annamalai  University, Chidambaram, Cuddalore  District, Tamilnadu.

Key Words: Lichen planus, Histomorphology.