Patterns of Interface Dermatosis - A Comparative Analysis of Clinical and Histopathological Features

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the frequency of various histopathological patterns of interface dermatitis and to compare the clinical and histopathological diagnosis.

Study Design: Comparative, cross-sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Histopathology Department, AMC (Army Medical College Rawalpindi), National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) Islamabad and Combined Military Hospital (C.M.H) Rawalpindi, Military Hospital (MH) Rawalpindi, from December 2018 to December 2019.

Materials and Methods: Skin biopsies of the clinically diagnosed cases of interface dermatitis/lichenoid dermatitis were collected over a period of  one year and were categorised on the bases of intensity and type of interface inflammation, prominent histopathological features and then compared with the clinical features.  

Results: A total of 115 samples were collected from the patients who were clinically diagnosed with interface dermatitis or had a previous history of interface dermatitis and presented with a new skin lesion. Histopathology confirmed interface dermatitis in 97 cases. Lichen planus (58.8%) was found to be the most common cell rich type.  Erythema multiforme (50%) was the most common cell poor variant and amid the sub-epidermal blistering disorders, bullous pemphigoid (62.5%) was the most frequent blistering disorder showing interface dermatitis.

Conclusion: Interface dermatitis is a clinically diverse entity and clinicopathological correlation helps in differentiating diseases showing interface dermatitis and arriving at an accurate diagnosis.