Lichen sclerosus

"BXO" redirects here. For other uses, see BXO (disambiguation).
Lichen sclerosus
Other namesBalanitis xerotica obliterans, lichen sclerosus et atrophicus,[1] Lichen sclerosis et atrophicus,[2] lichen plan atrophique, lichen plan scléreux, Kartenblattförmige Sklerodermie, Weissflecken Dermatose, lichen albus, lichen planus sclerosus et atrophicus, dermatitis lichenoides chronica atrophicans, kraurosis vulvae[3]
Micrograph of lichen sclerosus showing the characteristic subepithelial sclerosus (right/bottom of image). H&E stain.
SpecialtyGynaecology

Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease, of unknown cause, which can affect any body part of any person, but has a strong preference for the genitals (penis, vulva), and is also known as balanitis xerotica obliterans when it affects the penis. Lichen sclerosus is not contagious. There is a well-documented increase of skin cancer risk in LS, potentially improvable with treatment.[4][5] LS in adult age women is normally incurable, although treatment can lessen its effects, and it often gets progressively worse if not treated properly. Most males with mild or intermediate disease, restricted to foreskin or glans, can be cured by either medical or surgical treatment.[6]

  1. ^ James, William D.; Berger, Timothy G. (2006). Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: clinical Dermatology. Saunders Elsevier. p. 227. ISBN 0-7216-2921-0.
  2. ^ "Lichen sclerosus". Autoimmune Registry Inc. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  3. ^ Meffert, Jeffrey J; Davis, Brian M; Grimwood, Ronald E (March 1995). "Lichen sclerosus". Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 32 (3): 393–416. doi:10.1016/0190-9622(95)90060-8. PMID 7868709.
  4. ^ Kravvas, G.; Ge, L.; Ng, J.; Shim, T. N.; Doiron, P. R.; Watchorn, R.; Kentley, J.; Panou, E.; Dinneen, M.; Freeman, A.; Jameson, C.; Haider, A.; Francis, N.; Minhas, S.; Alnajjar, H. (March 2022). "The management of penile intraepithelial neoplasia (PeIN): clinical and histological features and treatment of 345 patients and a review of the literature". The Journal of Dermatological Treatment. 33 (2): 1047–1062. doi:10.1080/09546634.2020.1800574. ISSN 1471-1753. PMID 32705920.
  5. ^ Kravvas, G.; Shim, T.N.; Doiron, P.R.; Freeman, A.; Jameson, C.; Minhas, S.; Muneer, A.; Bunker, C.B. (2017-08-16). "The diagnosis and management of male genital lichen sclerosus: a retrospective review of 301 patients". Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 32 (1): 91–95. doi:10.1111/jdv.14488. ISSN 0926-9959. PMID 28750140.
  6. ^ European Dermatology Forum Guideline on Lichen Sclerosus (2014)