Keratosis lichenoides chronica: The Centenary of Another Kaposi’s Disease

Abstract

In 1895, Kaposi used the term 'lichen ruber acuminatus verrucosus et reticularis' to describe the case of a 27-year-old woman with a linear, warty lichenoid eruption. We have reviewed the literature and found 50 cases, of which only 40 had common features reminiscent of the original description of Kaposi. These 'authentic' cases of keratosis lichenoides chronica (KLC) showed strong clinical and histological similarity, a uniformity indicating that KLC is an entity and is distinct from lichen planus. KLC may be associated with internal diseases such as glomerulonephritis and lymphoproliferative disorders.