Oral Lichen Planus and Polycythemia: Possible Association

Figure 5

Histological examination leading to the diagnosis of oral lichen planus (OLP). The mucosa was covered with a squamous epithelium taking on a flattened appearance with slight acanthosis and hyperkeratosis (essentially orthokeratosis and some focal parakeratosis). The basement membrane was vacuolated with the presence of Civatte apoptotic bodies (b). The underlying tissue is the seat of a dense linear infiltrate surrounding the nerve nets in places; it is mainly made of lymphocytes with rare cells of a histiocytic nature. This lymphocytic band infiltrate (a) at the level of the chorion attacks and gradually destroys the keratinocytes of the basal and deep seat of the epithelium. No signs of malignancy were noted.

(a)

(b)