Lichen Sclerosus in Prepubertal Girls: An Uncommon but Treatable Cause of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

Abstract

Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis commonly visualized in the anogenital region with porcelain-white atrophic patches that extend to the perianal region in a figure-of-eight configuration. While LS is known to increase lower urinary tract symptoms and incontinence in postmenopausal women, the age distribution is bimodal and literature on the LS impact in prepubertal girls remains limited. There is an association with autoimmune conditions and the pathogenesis is thought to be autoimmune with an underlying genetic predisposition. Lack of familiarity among pediatric urology providers may lead to a significant diagnostic and treatment delay, resulting irreversible genital skin changes.