NAIL-LICHEN-STRIATUS - CLINICAL-FEATURES AND LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP OF 5PATIENTS

Background: Nail involvement in lichen striatus (LS) is uncommon and h as always been reported in association with typical skin lesions. Obje ctive: We attempted to characterize the clinical and pathologic featur es and the long-term prognosis of nail LS, Methods: Five cases of LS o f the nail including three cases with exclusive nail involvement were evaluated and the literature reviewed. Results: Biopsy specimens showe d a moderately dense bandlike lymphohistiocytic Infiltrate affecting t he proximal nailfold, the nail bed and the nail matrix dermis, Exocyto sis with slight spongiosis, focal hypergranulosis, and dyskeratotic ce lls were detectable in the nail matrix epithelium, Spontaneous regress ion of the onychodystrophy occurred after 4 to 12, months from the tim e of diagnosis (mean, 8.4 months). Conclusions: Nail LS is nor. necess arily associated with skin lesions but can also be an isolated finding . The diagnosis of nail LS should be strongly suspected when a child o r a young patient presents with lichen planus-like nail abnormalities localized to the lateral or medial portion of a single nail.