Case Report DOI: 10.7241/ourd.20132.42 Our Dermatol Online. 2013; 4(2): 183-184 Date of submission: 21.02.2013 / acceptance: 20.03.2013 Abstract Since its original description by Devergie in 1854, several cases of linear lichen planus have been described in the literature, but there have been notably few cases of the more rare zosteriform lichen planus. Zosteriform lichen planus needs to be differentiated from linear lichen planus and other linear dermatoses. We present a case of Zosteriform Lichen planus for its rarity and briely review literature. Key words: zosteriform; linear; lichen planus © Our Dermatol Online 2.2013 183 Introduction Lichen planus (LP) has certain clinical variants which may present dificulty in diagnosis especially when the lesions happen to be arranged in a linear fashion. Linear distribution of the disease has been described in less than 1% of patients and need to be differentiated from other linear dermatoses [1]. It may be zosteriform and follows the lines of Blaschko [2,3]. We report a rare case of Zosteriform variant of Lichen planus in a young patient. Case Report A 12-year-old boy presented with multiple pruritic, violaceous annular skin lesions over the left side of chest. It started as small violaceous papules which coalesced to form ring lesions. There was no past history of herpes zoster or any other skin lesions. Family history was not signiicant. Dermatological examination revealed multiple, violaceous annular lesions in T5 dermatomal region over the chest, extending from below the left nipple to the left lateral side of chest, measuring more than 2 cms in diameter (Fig. 1). The margin of the lesion was beaded and the center atrophic. Few lat topped, violaceous, polygonal papules were present on the skin between the annular lesions. No other skin lesions were noted any where in the body. The histopathologic examination of the lesion showed orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis, variable acanthosis, focal hypergranulosis, hydropic degeneration of basal cell layer and band like inlammatory iniltrate, suggestive of Lichen Planus (Fig. 2). Disuussion Lichen planus (LP) is an idiopathic inlammatory disease of the skin and mucous membrane. It is characterized by pruritic violaceous papules that favor the extremities. In addition to the classical appearance, about 20 different variants are described [4]. Linear LP refers to lichen planus with a unilateral linear distribution and may occur at the site of healed zoster [5]. Although it is common in children but is also seen in adults [6]. Zosteriform pattern is a variant of LP that occurs without evidence of herpes zoster, and is extremely rare in occurrence. www.odermatol.com Source of Support: Nil Competing Interests: None Cite this article: Kanthilatha Pai, Sathish Pai: Zosteriform Lichen Planus: case report of a rare variant of Lichen Planus. Our Dermatol Online. 2013; 4(2): 183-184. ZOSTERIFORM LICHEN PLANUS: CASE REPORT OF A RARE VARIANT OF LICHEN PLANUS Kanthilatha Pai 1 , Sathish Pai 2 1 Department of Pathology, KMC International center, Manipal University, Manipal, India 2 Department of Dermatology, KMC Manipal, Manipal University, Manipal, India Corresponding author: Dr Kanthilatha Pai klpai@yahoo.com Figure 1. Multiple voilaceous papules and plaques over T5 dermatome