The Clinicopathological Study of Granuloma Annulare

Hong, Seok Jin; Kim, Dong Jun; Son, Sook Ja; Kang, Hoon

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Granuloma annulare is a chronic skin disease of unknown origin, that can present itself with diverse clinical and histopathologic findings. But no clinicopathological studies has been reported yet in Korea.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to investigate the clinicopathological findings of each type of granuloma annulare.
METHODS
We observed twenty two cases of granuloma annulare and examined their clinical manifestations and histopathological findings.
RESULTS
The incidence showed a bimodal peak between 3 to 4 years and 49 to 51 years in age and females were affected twice as much as males. The lesions are commonly located on the distal portion of the extremities. In histopathologic findings, perforating type was observed in 13.6% and subcutaneous type in 18.2%. In collagen alteration, fragmentation and hyalinization were observed in 72.7% and 81.8% respectively. Most infiltrated cells were epithelioid cells. In vascular changes, endothelial swelling and occlusion of vessels were common findings and vasculitis was shown in 36.4%.
CONCLUSION
There were not epidemiologic differences from the reported studies in western patients. But the clinical manifestation and the histopathologic findings were so varied that differential diagnosis is important in diagnosis of granuloma annulare. Immunological and immunohistochemical studies may be necessary for differential diagnosis and elucidating pathogenesis of granuloma annulare.