Introduction: Lichenoid and interface dermatoses comprise a diverse group of inflammatory skin disorders that share characteristic histopathological features, particularly injury to basal keratinocytes and inflammation at the dermo-epidermal junction. Despite their clinical importance, information on their histopathological spectrum in Nigeria remains limited, especially from private pathology practice.
Objective: To describe the histopathological spectrum, demographic characteristics, and specimen features of lichenoid and interface dermatoses diagnosed over a ten-year period at a private pathology laboratory in Abuja, Nigeria.
Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted on skin biopsy specimens diagnosed as lichenoid or interface dermatoses between January 2016 and December 2025. Information on age, sex, anatomical site, and biopsy technique was retrieved from laboratory records and analysed descriptively.
Results: A total of 336 specimens were identified. The largest proportion was from individuals aged 30–49 years (30.4%), followed by adults whose specific age was not recorded (25.3%) and those aged 10–29 years (19.6%). Females accounted for 58.0% of specimens, giving a female-to-male ratio of approximately 1.4:1. The lower limb was the most frequently documented biopsy site (30.1%), followed by multiple sites (26.5%) and the upper limb (15.8%). Punch biopsy was the most commonly used sampling technique (61.3%), followed by incisional biopsy (28.6%).
Conclusion: In this Abuja laboratory series, lichenoid and interface dermatoses were most frequently represented among middle-aged adults and females, with the lower limbs and multiple anatomical sites commonly involved. The findings provide useful insight into the pattern of these disorders in private dermatopathology practice in Nigeria and add to the limited local literature. Further multicentre studies incorporating detailed clinical and histopathological correlation would provide a broader understanding of these conditions in Nigeria.