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Aykut TS, Ilkay O, Recep D, Arzu A, S?dd?ka F, Cihat AM. Localized annular lichen planus on foot mimicking tinea pedis. Our Dermatol Online. 2019;10(1):62-65.

 

 
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Localized annular lichen planus on foot mimicking tinea pedis

Temiz Selami Aykut1, Ozer Ilkay1, Dursun Recep1, Ataseven Arzu1, F?nd?k S?dd?ka2, Avunduk Mustafa Cihat2

1Department of Dermatology, Necmettin Erbakan Univercity, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Meram/Konya, Turkey, 2Department of Pathology, Necmettin Erbakan Univercity, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Meram/Konya, Turkey

Corresponding author: Dr. Temiz Selami Aykut, E-mail: aykutmd42@gmail.com

Submission: 23.05.2018; Acceptance: 06.07.2018

DOI:10.7241/ourd.20191.16


ABSTRACT

Lichen Planus (LP) is an inflammatory mucocutaneous disease characterized by typically itchy, pink-purple, polygonal, flat, papules and plaques. The genital region, the oral mucosa, and the flexor surfaces of the extremities are the most common locations of lichen planus. LP usually appears as diffuse lesions. In the literature, single liken planus lesion cases were re ported on the lower lip, esophagus, and breast. Localized foot annular lichen planus is a very rare and extraordinary manifestation of LP. Herein, we present two cases of a single plaque LP on the foot that had been diagnosed as tinea pedis and nummular dermatitis in external family medicine clinics. We want to underline the significance of this uncommon entity in the differential diagnosis of plantar dermatoses in primary care.

Key words: Lichen planus, Tinea pedis, Histopathology, Family physician, Primary care


INTRODUCTION

Lichen Planus (LP) is an inflammatory mucocutaneous disease characterized by typically itchy, pink-purple, polygonal, flat, papules and plaques [1]. The genital region, the oral mucosa, and the flexor surfaces of the extremities are the most common locations of lichen planus [2]. LP usually appears as diffuse lesions [3]. In the literature, single liken planus lesion cases were reported on the lower lip, esophagus, and breast [46]. Localized foot annular lichen planus is a very rare and extraordinary manifestation of LP.

Herein, we present two cases of a single plaque LP on the foot that had been diagnosed as tinea pedis and nummular dermatitis in external family medicine clinics. We want to underline the significance of this uncommon entity in the differential diagnosis of plantar dermatoses in primary care.

CASE REPORT

Case Report One

A 50-year-old woman presented with erythematous violaceous plaque over the medial side of her left foot (Fig. 1). This lesion had first appeared one year ago. She was diagnosed with tinea pedis and nummular dermatitis in external clinics and was treated with topical antifungal and corticosteroid therapy. The cutaneous examination revealed erythematous violaceous plaques over the medial side of her left foot. There were no additional features in her general physical examination.

Figure 1: Erythematous violaceous plaque over the medial side of her left foot

In terms of the patient’s medical history, she had had type 2 diabetes mellitus for seventeen years and essential hypertension for two years. Laboratory studies were unremarkable.

The histopathological examination revealed focal parakeratosis, an increase in the granular cell layer, and a band-like lymphocytic infiltrate in the dermis (Fig. 2). A periodic acid-Schiff [PAS] stain was negative. The final diagnosis was lichen planus.

Figure 2: The histopathological examination revealed focal parakeratosis, an increase in the granular cell layer, and a band-like lymphocytic infiltrate in the dermis.

0.05% clobetasol 17-propionate was given twice daily for ten days, and the patient was advised to take it in the form of occlusion in the evening. After 10 days, tacrolin pomade was recommended to be applied twice a day.

Prior to the study, patient gave written consent to the examination and biopsy after having been informed about the procedure.

Case Report Two

A 43-year-old man presented with erythematous violaceous plaque over the medial side of his right foot for six months. He was diagnosed as having tinea pedis in external clinics. The cutaneous examination revealed 3×4 cm erythematous violaceous plaques over the medial side of his right foot (Fig. 3). His other body areas and mucous membranes were examined and found to be normal. There were no characteristics in the patient’s medical history. A native (%10 KOH) study was negative for fungal disease.

Figure 3: 3×4 cm erythematous violaceous plaques over the medial side of his right foot

The histopathological examination revealed focal parakeratosis, an increase in the granular cell layer, and a band-like lymphocytic infiltrate in the dermis (Fig. 4). A periodic acid-Schiff [PAS] stain was negative. The final diagnosis was lichen planus.

Figure 4: The histopathological examination revealed focal parakeratosis, an increase in the granular cell layer, and a band-like lymphocytic infiltrate in the dermis

0.05% clobetasol 17-propionate was given to the patient twice daily for ten days, and he was advised to take it in the form of occlusion in the evening. After 10 days, tacrolin pomade was recommended to be applied twice a day.

Prior to the study, patient gave written consent to the examination and biopsy after having been informed about the procedure.

DISCUSSION

Lichen planus lesions can emerge in many different forms: annular, linear, hypertrophic, atrophic, bullous, ulcerative, and pigmented [3]. The lesions in our cases were compatible with annular lichen planus. LP is generally localized to flexures, extremities, genitalia, and oral mucosa [2]. Palmoplantar lichen planus is an uncommon limited variant of lichen planus. In our cases, there was only a single plaque lichen planus on the foot, a rather rare variant of lichen planus [7]. Although the lesion was only on the foot and not on the hands, our cases was thought to be a single plaque lesion as a rare variant of palmoplantar lichen planus.

Lichen planus usually occurs with diffuse lesions anywhere in the body [5]. Lichen planus is mostly acute at its onset [8]. It is quite rare for lichen planus to appear as a single plaque LP. In the literature, single liken planus lesion cases were reported on the lower lip, esophagus, breast, and eyelids [46,9]. We did not find a case of a single plaque lichen planus on the foot previously in the literature; thus, our cases were the first reported cases. It was remarkable that the patients were followed for such a long time in primary care with the incorrect diagnosis of tinea pedis. These types of cases can be easily misdiagnosed when they are first referred to the family physician [10].

The differential diagnosis of palmoplantar LP includes psoriasis, callus, tinea, hyperkeratotic eczema, secondary syphilis, verruca, nummular dermatitis, mycosis fungoides, and granuloma annulare [11]. The histopathological examination plays a key role in the differential diagnosis [12]. In our cases, the native examination was negative, and the histopathological examination was compatible with lichen planus.

Acitretin, enoxaparin, cyclosporine, topical cyclosporine, systemic corticosteroid, topical corticosteroid, topical tacrolimus, surgery, UVA1, db-UVB, metronidazole, retinoic acid, sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine, mycophenolate mofetil, and thalidomide are the treatment modalities for palmoplantar LP In the literature [13,14]. There was also a case of a positive response with topical calcineurin inhibitor therapy reported in the literature [15,16]. In our cases, we added tacrolimus cream to a topical steroid therapy, and clinical follow up of our cases continue.

CONCLUSION

We reported here two cases of a single plaque lichen planus on the foot that had been diagnosed as tinea pedis and nummular dermatitis in external clinics. We present our cases to emphasize the importance of the native examination and histopathology in a differential diagnosis of palmoplantar dermatoses and the rare occurrence of single plaque lichen planus on the foot. Since clinical properties may not be suggestive of LP, a skin biopsy is important for the diagnosis.

CONSENT

The examination of the patient was conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki principles.

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Notes

Source of Support: Nil

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

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