Lichen sclerosus - Anogenital in
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Synopsis

Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic scarring dermatosis of unknown etiology affecting individuals of all races. Lesions occur mostly on the genitalia, perineum, or perianal skin, but can appear anywhere.
LS presents as whitish plaques on the glans penis, prepuce, and shaft, frequently with subepidermal hemorrhages. If the glans penis and/or foreskin become involved, causing the tissues to shrink, the condition is called balanitis xerotica obliterans. The urethral meatus may also be involved. Although these lesions are mostly asymptomatic, there may be pruritus, burning on urination, meatal stenosis with difficulty voiding, phimosis, painful erections, diminished sensation of the glans, and sexual dysfunction.
Squamous cell carcinoma can arise in chronic, untreated genital lesions.
LS presents as whitish plaques on the glans penis, prepuce, and shaft, frequently with subepidermal hemorrhages. If the glans penis and/or foreskin become involved, causing the tissues to shrink, the condition is called balanitis xerotica obliterans. The urethral meatus may also be involved. Although these lesions are mostly asymptomatic, there may be pruritus, burning on urination, meatal stenosis with difficulty voiding, phimosis, painful erections, diminished sensation of the glans, and sexual dysfunction.
Squamous cell carcinoma can arise in chronic, untreated genital lesions.
Codes
ICD10CM:
L90.0 – Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus
SNOMEDCT:
895454001 – Lichen sclerosus
L90.0 – Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus
SNOMEDCT:
895454001 – Lichen sclerosus
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Diagnostic Pearls
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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
- Vitiligo
- Bowen disease / erythroplasia of Queyrat
- Scar
- Chronic radiation dermatitis
- Lichen planus, often erosive
- Lichen simplex chronicus
- Psoriasis
- Zoon balanitis
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Management Pearls
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Therapy
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Drug Reaction Data
Below is a list of drugs with literature evidence indicating an adverse association with this diagnosis. The list is continually updated through ongoing research and new medication approvals. Click on Citations to sort by number of citations or click on Medication to sort the medications alphabetically.
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References
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Last Reviewed:03/08/2017
Last Updated:05/06/2019
Last Updated:05/06/2019

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Lichen sclerosus - Anogenital in
See also in: Overview,External and Internal Eye