Abstract
A case of asymptomatic lichen amyloidosus which occured on the lower legs of a 37-year-old man was in reported. Histopathologically, the features of the HE-stained specimens were compatible with those of lichen amyloidosus. Under light microscopy, however, the deposits stained negatively with Congo red and only faintly showed positive with Dylon. The same sections did not demonstrate birefringence under polarized light either. These findings were thus quite inconsistent with amyloid. However, when the Congo red and Dylon stained sections were viewed under fluorescence microscope, the deposits demonstrated an orange fluorescence. Immunohistochemically, the deposits reacted positively with anti-amyloid P component antibodies and anti-keratin antibodies. The findings of the electron microscope were compatible with amyloid. These results therefore confirmed that the deposits were amyloid. The skin condition of the patient improved after discontinuing the use of a nylon towel for bathing and applying steroid ointments. We believe that an accurate diagnosis may be quite impossible in such a case without the use of a fluorescence microscope.
