A Case of Vulvar Melanosis Associated with Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

Vulvar melanosis (VM) is clinically characterized by asymmetric macules or patches of varying size with a tan to black color and irregular borders. VM is more commonly found among perimenopausal women with a median age of 42 years. The exact pathogenesis of VM is not well understood. The proposed etiological factors for VM include oral contraceptive use, infection with human papillomavirus, and chronic inflammatory skin diseases such as lichen sclerosus et atrophicus. Histologic examination can easily differentiate mucosal lentiginosis from melanoma, but VM superimposed on a background of anogenital lichen sclerosus, both clinically and histologically, may mimic malignant melanoma. There have been two cases of VM associated with Dowling-Degos disease in the Korean dermatologic literature. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of VM associated with lichen sclerosus et atrophicus in the Korean dermatologic literature.