Polarized Microscopy Study of 10 Cases of Lichen Sclerosus Using Picro-Sirius Red Stain

Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic mucocutaneous sclerosis most commonly affecting the genital area, although extragenital localizations have also been described1, with unknown pathogenesis.

Our study aims to analyze the morphopathological aspects of LS through the prism of polarized microscopy and with the help of histochemical information provided by special Van Gieson stain for elastic tissue and Picro-Sirius Red special stain.

Picro-Sirius Red staining allows observation of the type of collagen synthesized in pathological conditions such as LS, as well as the appearance of mature hyalinization through loss of elastic tissue, and also the disappearing of piloerectile muscles.