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Actinic granuloma is a rare dermatological condition that can be difficult to diagnose, and the opinion of specialist dermatologists and histopathologists might be needed to confirm diagnosis. Our patient's lesion was not diagnosed until 3 years after initial presentation. We are aware of only 18 reported cases since 1982, and to our knowledge this is the first reported to affect the upper lip. The condition is slow to improve, and the most effective treatment remains unclear. We used intralesional steroid injections, but a small area has yet to resolve 9 years after presentation., (2009 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A wide spectrum of entities may give rise to soft-tissue masses in children, including benign and malignant tumors, pseudotumors, and both neoplastic and nonneoplastic vascular lesions. Because of its excellent tissue contrast, multiplanar capability, and lack of ionizing radiation, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has become the modality of choice in the evaluation of deep and large soft-tissue masses in children. In the vast majority of cases, however, accurate interpretation of the MR imaging findings requires correlation with the clinical findings. For example, in most posttraumatic and inflammatory pseudotumors, the clinical history is fundamental to establishing the diagnosis. In the evaluation of periarticular cysts, the location of the mass and its relationship to a joint are crucial for diagnosis, whereas in the evaluation of vascular lesions, including hemangiomas and vascular malformations, clinical findings combined with MR imaging findings are needed for accurate diagnosis in most cases. The identification of fat within adipocytic tumors is useful, but tissue biopsy may be required for final diagnosis. Nevertheless, MR imaging is useful in determining the origin and character of pediatric soft-tissue masses, defining their extent and their relationship to adjacent structures, and performing posttherapy follow-up.

Granuloma multiforme (GM) is a reactive skin disorder of unknown etiology, characterized clinically by confluent annular lesions and histologically by focal necrobiosis and histiocytic granulomas. GM is significant because of its clinical resemblance to tuberculoid leprosy, with which it can be confused. Here, we report a case of granuloma multiforme from India in a 70-year-old male farmer, with multiple asymptomatic large annular rings of papules over the back and thighs on photodistributed sites. Histopathology helps to clinch the diagnosis and differentiate from similar clinical and histologic mimics such as granuloma annulare, tuberculoid leprosy, actinic granuloma and annular sarcoid. Nevertheless, a very high degree of suspicion is required to diagnose GM.

Granuloma annulare is a granulomatous disorder of the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, with different clinical types. Generalized granuloma annulare is a rarely encountered clinical entity. We describe a 60-year-old woman with a 4-month history of generalized annular lesions. She had a history of myelocytic leukemia and chronic hepatitis B virus infection. To date, both acute myelocytic leukemia and hepatitis B virus infection have been described independently in association with generalized granuloma annulare but have never been described together in association with generalized granuloma annulare. Probable etiological causes of granuloma annulare are discussed in our patient.

The disseminated cutaneous granulomatosis (DCG) are heterogeneous cutaneous diseases histologically characterized by a granulomatous infiltrate. The most frequent cutaneous granulomatosis is sarcoidosis, but many other causes can be found, because DCG are probably a skin granulomatous reaction to different stimuli: infectious, inflammatory, neoplastic, metabolic or chemical. The histopathological examination is useful for the diagnosis of DCG, but gives rarely an etiological diagnosis. In this article, we will propose a strategy for the etiological diagnosis of DCG, and propose therapeutic recommendations based on recent data from the literature.

A 5-year-old child developed panuveitis with choroidal lesions. Topical steroid medications were insufficient to control the inflammation long-term. Granuloma annulare was subsequently diagnosed in association with the uveitis. Systemic immunosuppression with methotrexate was eventually required to control the skin lesions and uveitis. Uveitis associated with granuloma annulare may present with choroidal lesions and panuveitis in children.

Aim: Granuloma annulare (GA) is a palisading granulomatous skin disease. It is a relatively common dermatosis typically characterized by an annular arrangement of erythematous or flesh-coloured papules. The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiological and clinical pattern of GA and its management., Methods: A retrospective study dealing with 35 cases of GA collected during an 11-year period from 1995 to 2005 was carried out at the Dermatology Department of Charles Nicolle's Hospital of Tunis., Results: There were 24 females and 11 males including 13 children. Four clinical patterns were observed: localized GA with annular shaped lesions in 22 cases (62.8%), subcutaneous GA in 9 cases (25.7%) with 4 children, combination of localized and subcutaneous patterns in one child (2.8%), generalized GA in one adult-patient (2.8%) and combination of generalized and subcutaneous patterns in 2 cases (5.7%). Associated diabetes mellitus was seen in 9 adults (25%) and thyroid diseases in 2 other adults (5.7%). Topical steroids were proposed in 9 cases with partial resolution in 6 of them. Four patients were treated by hydroxychloroquine with an improvement in 3 of them. Two patients (generalized GA with subcutaneous form and subcutaneous GA) were treated by dapsone with partial clearing., Conclusion: In these series, GA has the same epidemiological and clinical pattern as other series of the literature. Subcutaneous form had a pseudo-rheumatoid presentation in adults and an exclusive involvement of children when it is localized on the scalp. Associated systemic diseases, especially diabetes mellitus, are frequent in the series here observed.

Pretibial swellings in children usually represent erythema nodosum which exhibits characteristic skin changes. Three cases of pretibial subcutaneous lesions are presented which had no skin involvement or bony abnormalities on plain radiographs. At initial presentation, concerns of malignancy were raised but these lesions were ultimately diagnosed as granuloma annulare, fat necrosis and subcutaneous infection. In combination with clinical assessment and plain radiographs, MRI proved invaluable in reaching diagnosis and excluding neoplasia. Biopsy was only required in one case in this series after MRI. A tissue diagnosis, however, remains mandatory if there is any doubt over the nature of such lesions.

Objective: Subcutaneous granuloma annulare (SGA) is a benign inflammatory disorder that rarely affects the scalp. We report 5 cases of children with SGA scalp lesions and discuss our clinical experience and the characteristic findings, diagnostic evaluation, method of treatment, and course of the disease., Clinical Presentation: Five patients presented with multiple subcutaneous nodules at single or multiple sites overlying the scalp. A retrospective review of the medical, surgical, and pathology records of the 5 patients was conducted., Intervention: All scalp lesions were excised and were confirmed histologically to be SGA nodules. In 4 of the 5 patients, the nodules were nontender and nonmobile. The mean number of lesions was 4.2. The mean age of patients at presentation was 3.8 years. Of the 5 patients, 4 experienced at least 1 recurrence of a solitary lesion at either the same site or a different site. In the 80% of patients who experienced a recurrence, all lesions recurred less than 1 year postoperatively, except in the case of 1 patient who continued to experience a disappearance and reappearance of lesions at 72 months. The ultimate diagnosis of all lesions was established through biopsy and subsequent microscopic evaluation. No postoperative complications were noted., Conclusion: Granuloma annulare should be included in the differential diagnosis whenever a scalp subcutaneous superficial nodule is observed. Although many modalities of treatment for SGA nodules are used, recurrence is common, even with surgical excision.

Scleromyxedema is notable for significant morbidity and mortality. A generalized eruption of waxy papules in the absence of thyroid disease with histologic findings of mucin deposition, increased fibroblast proliferation, and fibrosis are the characteristic features of scleromyxedema. We report a case of scleromyxedema that, on histology, was associated with interstitial granuloma annulare-like features. Based on our literature review, this is a rare presentation of this disease. Familiarity with the histologic aspects of scleromyxedema, as described in this report, can help to improve the accuracy of this diagnosis, particularly in atypical presentations.

Granuloma annulare is a dermatologic condition of unknown etiology that has been associated with systemic diseases and reported to be a paraneoplastic manifestation. Two patients with generalized granuloma annulare as an initial manifestation of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia are herein described. We suggest that chronic myelomonocytic leukemia should be added to the list of systemic diseases associated with generalized granuloma annulare.

Deep granuloma annulare is a rare variance of granuloma annulare. We present a 4-year-old boy with 30 lesions located only in the scalp with spontaneous regression of all lesions.

Granuloma multiforme is a rare granulomatous skin disease, usually reported in sub-Saharan African countries. The exact aetiology of granuloma multiforme is still unknown. We report the case of a patient who presented clinical and histopathological features of granuloma multiforme that can be considered the first described case in Tunisia.

Requena et al, in their article titled "Histiocytoid Sweet syndrome," in 2005, established that the dermal infiltrate in some patients with Sweet's syndrome is composed of histiocyte-like immature myeloid cells, not polymorphonuclear leukocytes as is the norm. With this premise in mind, we report on 6 cases of inflammatory skin disease in which the common denominator was a dermal and/or subcutaneous infiltrate of histiocytoid myeloid cells in patients with new-onset cutaneous eruptions and systemic symptoms. The cases were diverse clinically and microscopically, fell short of the criteria necessary for a diagnosis of classical Sweet's syndrome, and were difficult to categorize at the outset. The systemic manifestations ranged from malaise alone to a combination of fever, chills, night sweats, and polyarthralgia. The clinical morphology of the cutaneous eruptions varied from being papulovesicular in 1 patient to mainly consisting of erythematous plaques and nodules in the remainder. The dermatologists' differential diagnoses included Sweet's syndrome in 3 cases, a drug eruption in 2, and other entities such as erythema nodosum and Well's syndrome. Biopsies in all cases revealed a dermal and/or subcutaneous infiltrate composed predominantly of mononuclear histiocytoid cells of myeloid origin. With the benefit of detailed clinicopathologic correlation, the cases were classified for the purpose of this report as follows: Sweet's-like neutrophilic dermatosis, histiocytoid (3 cases); subcutaneous Sweet's syndrome, histiocytoid (2 cases); histiocytoid neutrophilic dermatosis, unspecified (1 case). In addition, we describe a further instructive case that exhibited overlap with those in the series but proved ultimately to represent leukemia cutis. The spectrum of observations in this report supports and expands the original concept of histiocytoid Sweet's syndrome.

Rashes are common in the pediatric population yet can be quite problematic for nurse practitioners to diagnose. A thorough history and physical examination, along with some simple procedures, will aid in identifying these skin conditions. Four cases are presented, which may initially prove challenging to diagnose, and symptoms are categorically examined to arrive at the accurate diagnoses. Treatment guidelines, options, and the role of parental education and involvement also are discussed.

Subcutaneous granuloma annulare is a rare clinicopathologic variant of granuloma annulare, characterized by subcutaneous nodules that may appear alone or in association with intradermal lesions. The pathogenesis of this deep variant of granuloma annulare remains uncertain. Subcutaneous granuloma annulare appears more frequently in children and young adults, and the lesions consist of subcutaneous nodules with no inflammatory appearance at the skin surface, most commonly located on the anterior aspects of the lower legs, hands, head, and buttocks. Usually, subcutaneous granuloma annulare is an authentic and exclusive panniculitic process with no dermal participation, although in 25% of the patients lesions of subcutaneous granuloma annulare coexist with the classic findings of granuloma annulare in the dermis. Histopathologically, subcutaneous granuloma annulare consist of areas of basophilic degeneration of collagen bundles with peripheral palisading granulomas involving the connective tissue septa of the subcutis. Usually, the area of necrobiosis in subcutaneous granuloma annulare is larger than in the dermal counterpart. The central necrobiotic areas contain increased amounts of connective tissue mucin and nuclear dust from neutrophils between the degenerated collagen bundles. Eosinophils are more common in subcutaneous granuloma annulare than in the dermal counterpart. There are not descriptions of subcutaneous granuloma annulare showing a histopathologic pattern of the so-called incomplete or interstitial variant. Histopathologic differential diagnosis of subcutaneous granuloma annulare includes rheumatoid nodule, necrobiosis lipoidica and epithelioid sarcoma.

Background: Granuloma annulare is a common form of dermatosis in children and young adults. Lesions are typically found on the hands, the feet and the extensor surfaces of the limbs, and occasionally on the trunk. We report a case original in terms of its palpebral localization., Case-Report: A 5 year-old girl consulted for papular lesions on the eyelids. The clinical examination revealed papules on the right lower eyelid measuring 8 mm, on the left lower eyelid measuring 5 mm and on the right upper eyelid measuring 3 mm. Laboratory tests including serum glucose, lipids and calcium as well as a complete blood count proved normal. Biopsy showed granulomatous lesions: a region of central necrosis surrounded by a palisade of inflammatory cells confirmed the diagnosis of granuloma annulare. The lesions disappeared in a few weeks without treatment., Discussion: To our knowledge, 44 cases of granuloma annulare of the periorbital area have been reported, of which 19 concerned children. This presentation represents an atypical localization of granuloma annulare which must not be confused with many other palpebral disorders. Biopsy is necessary to confirm the diagnosis.

We studied 20 granuloma annulare (GA) cases (10 interstitial and 10 palisaded) and 19 Kaposi sarcoma (KS) cases (9 "early" and 10 typical). Tissue sections were stained for iron, Hale colloidal iron, human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), CD31, CD34, CD68, collagen IV, factor XIIIa, and MIB-1. Iron staining of dermal tissue associated with the lesion was confirmed in all KS cases and no GA cases. Immunohistochemical stains for HHV-8 were positive in all 9 cases of early KS and most cases (9/10) of typical KS. All 20 cases of GA were HHV-8-. CD31, CD34, CD68, factor XIIIa, and MIB-1 were also stained but were difficult to interpret and did not seem specific for GA or KS. Iron staining and immunohistochemical HHV-8 staining in combination were reliable markers for KS compared with interstitial GA. MIB-1 fractions of less than 5% favored a diagnosis of GA, whereas fractions greater than 10% favored a diagnosis of KS. This study provides novel data characterizing iron staining in KS and details the use of iron staining, HHV-8, and MIB-1 to distinguish KS from GA.

Subcutaneous granuloma annulare (SGA) is a self-limited inflammatory lesion consisting of dermal or subcutaneous nodules usually affecting children. Lower extremity involvement is the most common anatomic site. Because of the subcutaneous location, the morphological diagnosis of SGA can be challenging, and differential diagnoses are both benign and malignant processes including epithelioid sarcoma. Our article examines the clinical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical aspects of SGA in comparison to ES. We present 3 cases of SGA in children, who were initially diagnosed with ES and discuss the differential diagnoses features between SGA and ES. Because SGA can simulate ES, the awareness of this possibility is important to avoid overtreatment, like amputation, of the benign condition (SGA).

Granuloma annulare is a benign, asymptomatic, self-limited papular eruption found in patients of all ages. The primary skin lesion usually is grouped papules in an enlarging annular shape, with color ranging from flesh-colored to erythematous. The two most common types of granuloma annulare are localized, which typically is found on the lateral or dorsal surfaces of the hands and feet; and disseminated, which is widespread. Localized disease generally is self-limited and resolves within one to two years, whereas disseminated disease lasts longer. Because localized granuloma annulare is self-limited, no treatment other than reassurance may be necessary. There are no well-designed randomized controlled trials of the treatment of granuloma annulare. Treatment recommendations are based on the pathophysiology of the disease, expert opinion, and case reports only. Liquid nitrogen, injected steroids, or topical steroids under occlusion have been recommended for treatment of localized disease. Disseminated granuloma annulare may be treated with one of several systemic therapies such as dapsone, retinoids, niacinamide, antimalarials, psoralen plus ultraviolet A therapy, fumaric acid esters, tacrolimus, and pimecrolimus. Consultation with a dermatologist is recommended because of the possible toxicities of these agents.

Annular elastolytic giant cell granuloma (AEGCG) is an uncommon entity clinically characterized by erythematous annular plaques with atrophic and hypopigmented center, that predominates in sun-exposed zones. The histology shows a granulomatous infiltrate without palisading image, made up of lymphocytes, histiocytes and giant cells, with phagocytosis of elastic fibers, without necrobiosis or mucin deposit. We present the case of a male patient with atypical clinical manifestation on the non-sun exposed skin and AEGCG characteristic histology.

A 57-year-old, fair-skinned female patient with lesions of granuloma annulare located on her forearms - with signs of actinic damage - is described. No response was observed after successive treatments with topical corticosteroids and oral pentoxifylline. Four years later, the patient developed open comedones on the rim of granuloma annulare lesions. The loss of elastic fibers seen in both granuloma annulare and solar elastosis is presumed to have induced the appearance of open comedones, because of a loss of supporting properties of the dermis inducing a distension of the infundibular canal of the sebaceous follicle, as seen in the Favre-Racouchot disease and actinic comedonal plaque. Concomitantly, the patient developed insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Treatment with insulin resulted in the disappearance of open comedones and notably regression of lesions of granuloma annulare. Response to insulin therapy in our case supports the hypothesis that insulinopenia could participate in the development of granuloma annulare in some cases.

A 2-year-old child presented with a painless subperiosteal periorbital mass of 6 months' duration. This was associated with several small cutaneous nodules that resolved spontaneously before surgical excision of the orbital lesion. Excisional biopsy of the lesion revealed a deep granuloma annulare in a subperiosteal location along the superior orbital rim. The patient did well after surgery, with no evidence of recurrence after 18 months. Deep granuloma annulare is a rare lesion often confused with rheumatoid nodule. It has not previously been reported in a subperiosteal location around the orbit. Although granuloma annulare is typically benign and often self-limiting, in some cases it can be associated with systemic disease.