Hypertrophic lichen planus. A case report

Abstract

Lichen planus is a chronic and relatively common inflammatory dermatosis in middle-aged adults that usually affects the skin, mucous membranes, hair and nails under different morphological patterns reason for why its diagnosis can present some difficulty.
To perform an accurate diagnosis a physical and complementary exam is essential.
The etiology of lichen planus is unknown although different etiologic mechanisms have been postulated of which the immune is the most prevalent. Hypertrophic lichen planus constitutes one of its morphological varieties characterized by a very itchy rash and by being localized at limbs level. In patients with an atypical clinical presentation a follow-up is also necessary to monitor the possibility of malignant transformation that has been described in the scientific literature. We report the case of a 70 year old woman with hypertrophic lichen planus affecting the lower extremities admitted to the outpatient clinic in the Dermatology Department of the Naval Hospital of Ferrol.