title: A histopathologic study of oral mucosal lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Specimens representing 17 cases of each of oral mucosal lupus erythematosus (LE) and lichen planus were examined under the light microscope to establish a set of histopathologic criteria that would distinguish between the two. Statistical analysis showed that significant differences in histopathology exist between the two diseases. A classic case of LE was found to exhibit the following characteristics: vacuolization of keratinocytes, patchy PAS-positive deposits subepithelially, edema in the lamina propria, PAS-positive thickening of blood vessel walls, and the presence of a severe or perivascular inflammatory cell infiltrate. A number of other less significant alterations were also identified. It is concluded from this study that oral LE in most cases is characteristic enough to provide a definitive diagnosis at the light microscopic level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis.
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Karjalainen
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Tomich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004487:Edema / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000473:pathology*; D008179:Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid / Q000473:pathology*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology