A Quantitative Evaluation Of Epithelium And Inflammatory Infiltrate Of Lichen Planus And Lichenoid Reactions

Lichen planus and Lichenoid reaction are two different entities that pose adiagnostic dilemma. Objectives: Lichen planus and Lichenoid reactions are clinically andhistopathologically very similar but have different treatment and prognosis. This particularstudy is aimed at differentiating both these entities histopathologically with the use ofmicrometry and to find the role of subepithelial chronic inflammatory infiltrate onoverlying epithelium with regard to its thickness.Methods: In the present study, Lichen Planus (n=30) and Lichenoid reactions (n=10) werestudied. Using eyepiece graticule, epithelial thickness and subepithelial inflammatory bandthickness were measured in these lesions.Results: Positive correlation was seen between epithelial and inflammatory band thicknessin cases of lichenoid reactions and a negative correlation in cases of lichen planus.Conclusion: The study suggests that the nature and thickness of subepithelial infiltrate hasan influence on the overlying epithelium in Lichen Planus and Lichenoid reaction.