Context: Lichen planus (Greek leichen’ “tree moss”; Latin planus, “ flat”) is a unique, common inflammatory disorder that affects the skin, mucous membranes, nails and hair. Lichen planus may be clinically confused with guttate psoriasis, drug reaction, lichen nitidus and secondary syphilis. Any papular lesion such as granuloma annulare, Pityriasis rosea, and lichen amyloidosis may mimic lichen planus. The violet color of the papulonodular lesions of Kaposi’s sarcoma may transiently be confusing but skin biopsy is definitive. Because all papulosquamous disorders are characterized by scaling papules, clinical confusion may result during their diagnosis. Separation of each of these becomes important because the treatment and prognosis for each tends to be diseasespecific. Aim: To study the pattern of clinical and histopathological features of lichen planus of the skin with clinicopathological correlation. Material and Methods: The present study of 12 cases of lichen planus of the skin was carried out in the Department of Pathology of a tertiary care centre from December 2009 to October 2011. In this study, the patients which were clinically diagnosed as lichen planus of skin, before starting the treatment and attending the outdoor skin department were selected. Histopathological findings were interpreted in light of clinical details. Results: Out of 12 cases 6 (50%) were males and 6 (50%) were females with male to female ratio of 1:1. Maximum number of cases 6 (50%) were noted in the age group of 2140 years. Mean age was 26.16 years. Histopathological findings: hypergranulosis, hyperkeratosis, vacuolar alteration, band like infiltrate, irregular acanthosis with saw toothed rete ridges and melanin incontinence were noted in most of the cases of lichen planus. Conclusion: Histopathology serves as a diagnostic tool and rules out other lesions which mimic lichen planus.

Keywords: Lichen Planus; ClinicoHistopathological.