Question: Can you identify this condition?

A 12-year-old boy presented with a 2-year history of pruritic, erythematous, and scaly papules arranged in a linear distribution on the left scrotal sac. The lesions had first appeared at the age of 10 years and, since then, had gradually increased in size. He had received several treatments including topical steroids and antifungals without improvement. The boy was otherwise healthy and had no associated cutaneous, skeletal, neurologic, or ocular abnormalities. There was no family history of a similar condition. Complete physical examination revealed no associated abnormality.

The most likely diagnosis is

1. Noninflammatory epidermal nevus

2. Inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus

3. Linear psoriasis

4. Lichen striatus

Answer on page 286

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