Familial occurrence of lichen sclerosus

Abstract

An 8-year-old girl was first observed in the Clinic of Pediatric Dermatology due to vulvar burning and skin lesions of the left mammary region (Fig. 1). The physical examination showed a white color of the vulvar mucosa with peripheral microhemorrhages and micropapules, while in the left breast area there was an about 8 cm in diameter plaque with uniform diameter, erythematous micropapules at the periphery and central whitish atrophic area (Fig. 1). A skin biopsy confirmed the clinical suspicion of lichen sclerosus et atrphicus. The inflammatory lesions responded to treatment with topical corticosteroids and improved significantly at puberty. After 15 years, we reviewed the patient’s mother actually aged 46 years for a lesion of the left mammary region lasting for three months. On physical examination (Fig. 2) there was a 3 x 2 cm plaque consisting of partially confluent white micropapules, clearly visible on dermoscopy (Fig. 3). A skin biopsy confirmed the clinical suspicion and led to the final diagnosis of familial lichen sclerosus.