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The spectrum of primary cutaneous elastolytic granulomas and their distinction from granuloma annulare: a clinicopathological analysis
Author(s) -
Limas C
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1111/j.0309-0167.2004.01755.x
Subject(s) - granuloma annulare , pathology , granuloma , histology , giant cell , medicine , dermatology
Aims: Actinic granuloma (AG) and annular elastolytic giant cell granuloma (AEGCG) are terms commonly applied to cutaneous lesions characterized by elastolysis, elastophagocytosis and a multinucleated cell infiltrate. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship of these lesions to granuloma annulare (GA) which they resemble clinically. Methods and results: The clinicopathological data of 20 patients whose biopsies showed the histology of elastolytic granuloma as well as those of previously published cases with identical tissue changes were analysed to assess differences between AG, AEGCG and GA. The tissue changes of AG and AEGCG are identical and differ substantially from GA because of the predominant elastolysis and elastophagocytosis in the absence of necrobiosis and palisading granuloma. Actinic and/or thermal injury could be elicited frequently in the patient's history, but not always. Conclusions: AG may be considered as an aetiopathological subdivision of AEGCG. Patients with biopsies showing both GA and AEGCG are occasionally encountered. AEGCG is easily differentiated from incidental elastolysis which may be seen in a variety of aetiologically unrelated processes.