Clinicopathological correlation of noninfectious erythematous papulosquamous cutaneous lesions in a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Aims and Objectives: Papulosquamous lesions, the largest conglomerate of skin diseases, are characterized by scaling papules and plaques which amount to lots of confusion, and hence, a definitive histopathological diagnosis has a significant role. Our study was thus aimed at evaluation of correlation between clinical diagnosis with histopathological diagnosis of different noninfectious erythematous papulosquamous skin lesions encountered in a tertiary care center. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 cases of noninfectious erythematous, papulosquamous lesions prediagnosed by dermatologists of the same institute were included over a period of 1 year. Diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination using hematoxylin and eosin stain. Cases were tabulated according to the distribution of age, gender, localization of lesions, clinical, and histopathological diagnosis. Results: Majority of the patients were in the 20–40 years age group (66%) with slight female preponderance (52%). The limbs (42%) were most frequently involved site. Histopathologically, lichen planus was the most common (52%) followed by psoriatic lesions (20%), pityriasis rosea (4%), pityriasis rubra pilaris (4%), subacute cutaneous lupus erythmatosus (4%), prurigo simplex (4%), pityriasis lichenoides chronica (4%), urticaria (2%) and ashy dermatosis (2%). Correlation of clinical with histopathological diagnosis was positive in 92% cases and negative in 8% cases. Conclusion: The contribution of histopathology to the final diagnosis was significant. Skin biopsy is thus valuable in daily dermatology practice and appropriate clinicopathological correlation is very important for the effective diagnosis and treatment of patients.