Spectrum and clinical variants of giant cell elastolytic granuloma

Two Case Reports of Elastolytic Giant Cell Granuloma on the Palms

Elastolytic giant cell granuloma (EGCG) is a rare granulomatous reaction hypothesized to occur because of the altered antigenicity of elastic fibers, resulting in cellular immunological reactions. The hallmarks of EGCG include elastolysis, elastophagocytosis, and multinucleated giant cell infiltrations. EGCG was first described as an actinic granuloma or annular elastolytic giant cell granuloma that classically presents as centrifugally expanding annular plaques on sun-exposed areas. It was recently named EGCG due to reports of non-annular lesions in various sun-protected areas. Hand involvement has been described but is almost exclusively confined to the dorsal and lateral aspects of the hands. Herein, we report two cases of EGCG on the palms, an unusual site of presentation, that were successfully treated with topical, high-potency corticosteroids. EGCG should be included in the differential diagnosis in cases of annular skin lesions located on the marginal area of the palms.

A report of disseminated actinic granuloma: An unusually extensive presentation

In this report, a case of disseminated actinic granuloma in a 50-year-old female with type 2 diabetes mellitus is described. This case is unique due to the unusually extensive cutaneous involvement of the face, neck, trunk, and extremities at initial presentation. The lesions were in a striking photo-distribution, highlighting ultraviolet light as an important environmental trigger for this process. Interestingly, the patient refused the recommended systemic therapy with hydroxychloroquine, despite her significant burden of skin disease. This refusal stems from an unexpected reluctance on the part of the patient to take this medication due to the publicity and media coverage of side effects associated with inappropriate prescribing of this drug during the COVID-19 pandemic, presenting a new and surprising treatment barrier that clinicians may need to overcome.

Granulomatous annular diseases

Granulomatous skin disorders comprise a large group of diseases that are typically characterized by granuloma formation both in the skin and in many other tissues. Cutaneous lesions are usually seen as erythematous papules and plaques that may occasionally be arranged in an annular, ringlike configuration. The etiopathogenesis is unclear in most cases, and granuloma formation may be associated with various systemic, infectious, and metabolic disorders, foreign bodies, environmental antigens, or malignancies. Treatment options are dependent on the etiology, extent, and severity of the lesions. This review includes the clinical, histopathologic, and dermatoscopy findings, differentials, and treatment options for noninfectious granulomatous annular skin disorders.

Dermoscopy of annular elastolytic giant cell granuloma

Annular elastolytic giant cell granuloma is an uncommon granulomatous cutaneous disease that usually affects sun-exposed skin. Non-scarring alopecia is a possible presentation. Although histopathology is mandatory for the diagnosis, dermoscopy may help to narrow down the clinical differential diagnosis. The authors report a case of annular elastolytic giant cell granuloma in the scalp of a female adult patient, showing multiple yellowish/orange follicular dots in a diffuse erythemato-whitish background in the dermoscopy.

Light- and laser-based treatments for granuloma annulare: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Granuloma annulare (GA) is challenging to treat, especially when generalized. A systematic review to support the use of light- and laser-based treatments for GA is lacking.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review by searching Cochrane, MEDLINE, and Embase. Title, abstract, full-text screening, and data extraction were done in duplicate. Quality appraisal was performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool for case series.

RESULTS

Thirty-one case series met the inclusion criteria, representing a total of 336 patients. Overall, psoralen ultraviolet light A (PUVA) showed the greatest frequency of cases with complete response (59%, n = 77/131), followed by photodynamic therapy (PDT) (52%, n = 13/25), ultraviolet light B (UVB)/narrowband UVB (nbUVB)/excimer laser (40%, n = 19/47), UVA1 (31%, n = 27/86), and lasers (29%, n = 8/28). Overall across treatment modalities, higher response rates were seen in localized GA compared to generalized GA.

CONCLUSIONS

The body of evidence for light- and laser-based treatment of GA is sparse. Our results suggest that PUVA has a high clearance rate for GA but its use may be limited by concerns of carcinogenesis. Although PDT has the second highest clearance rate, adverse effects, small sample sizes, impractical treatment delivery (especially with generalized disease), and long-term concerns of carcinogenesis may limit its use. Although UVB/nbUVB/excimer laser appeared slightly less effective than other light therapies, we recommend UVB/nbUVB/excimer laser therapy as a first-line treatment for patients with generalized GA given wider availability and a favorable long-term safety profile.

A Retrospective Study of 105 Patients with Elastolytic Giant Cell Granuloma and a Proposal for a New Clinical Classification

Elastolytic giant cell granuloma, an idiopathic granulomatous dermatosis, is characterized by annular plaques on sun-exposed areas, and has been termed actinic granuloma or annular elastolytic giant cell granuloma. Many atypical clinical manifestations and lesions involving sun-protected areas have been reported. The aims of this retrospective study of 105 patients were to summarize the clinical and histological features of patients with this condition; to provide evidence for the viewpoint that elastolytic giant cell granuloma is a better term to include all clinical morphological types presenting with elastolysis, elastophagocytosis, and an infiltrate of multinucleated giant cells histologically; and to establish a new clinical classification. The varying clinical manifestations were further categorized into annular, papular, giant, mixed and generalized forms. The pathological manifestations were classified into giant cell, necrobiotic, histiocytic, sarcoidal and mixed patterns. Diabetes mellitus or impaired glucose tolerance were the most commonly identified comorbidities. Oral low-dose corticosteroid may be an effective treatment.

Non-Infectious Granulomatous Dermatoses: A Pathologist's Perspective

Granulomatous dermatitis (GD) is one of the commonest tissue reaction patterns encountered in dermatopathology practice. Granulomatous inflammation in the skin can be seen in a wide range of conditions, thus, granulomatous dermatitis always poses significant challenge even to the astute dermatologists and dermatopathologists. Broadly, granulomatous dermatitis is divided into two groups-infectious and non-infectious, the prevalence of both highly variable and show overlapping pathology. However, there are subtle histological clues, which when combined with clinical features, help to narrow down the differential diagnosis. Thus, a good Clinicopathological correlation (CPC) along with histochemical stains, culture and ancillary techniques including molecular studies are required for arriving at a definite diagnosis. In this review, we shall discuss the histological clues to diagnose non-infectious granulomatous dermatitis (NIGD) and their differential diagnoses.

Granulomas in Dermatopathology: Principal Diagnoses - Part 2

Part 2 of this series on granulomatous diseases focuses on skin biopsy findings. Whereas the first part treated noninfectious conditions (metabolic disorders and tumors, among other conditions), this part mainly deals with various types of infectious disease along with other conditions seen fairly often by clinical dermatologists.

Can Methotrexate be a successful treatment for unresponsive generalized annular elastolytic giant cell granuloma? Case report and review of the literature

Annular elastolytic giant cell granuloma (AEGCG) is a rare granulomatous skin disorder, characterized by erythematous plaques with elevated borders and hypopigmented center, occurring mainly on sun exposed-skin. Histologically it presents with elastophagocytosis and elastolysis. There is no established first line treatment for AEGCG, especially for the generalized form. In a small number of cases, antimalarial drugs and tranilast, associated to topical or oral steroids, have been proposed to treat generalized AEGCG with partial benefits. We herein present the case of a patient with AEGCG aged 74 years, who was unresponsive to classical therapies, and then successfully treated with methotrexate.

Treatment of granuloma annulare and related granulomatous diseases with sulphasalazine: a series of 16 cases

BACKGROUND

Granuloma annulare (GA) and the related annular elastolytic giant cell granuloma (AEGCG) and interstitial granulomatous dermatitis (IGD) are idiopathic histiocytic inflammatory disorders, which are frequently recalcitrant to treatment.

OBJECTIVES

Evaluate the efficacy of sulphasalazine in treating GA, AEGCG and IGD.

METHODS

Sixteen patients were identified with granulomatous disease who were treated with sulphasalazine between September 2015 and September 2019. Outcomes were based on patients' and providers' subjective evaluations.

RESULTS

Sixteen patients were included in the study (ages 56-89, four male and twelve female). Previous treatments were attempted in fifteen patients. Clinical improvement was seen in fourteen patients (87.5%). Initial improvement was noted within a mean (SD) of 66.4 (35.1) days after starting therapy, with increasing benefits over time. Ten patients (62.5%) reported complete or near-complete clearance, three patients (18.8%) reported significant improvement, and one (6.3%) reported partial improvement. Twelve patients elected to stop or reduce therapy, resulting in relapse or worsening in five patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Sulphasalazine may be considered as treatment for GA and GA-related conditions.

Generalised papular variant of elastolytic giant cell granuloma

Elastolytic giant cell granuloma (EGCG), also known as actinic granuloma, is an uncommon granulomatous dermatosis usually characterised by asymptomatic annular plaques on sun-exposed skin. Its aetiology is not fully elucidated, but actinic damage has been considered the main causal factor. Atypical variants with lesions in a non-photodistributed pattern are rare and often related to a systemic disorder, suggesting a more complex pathogenesis and demanding for a screening work-up. Herein, we report a case of an adult obese, diabetic woman presenting with a generalised pruritic papular eruption, histologically revealing an elastolytic giant cell granuloma, with a good response to treatment. In this case, the dermatosis was probably associated with her metabolic comorbidities.

Cutaneous disorders characterized by elastolysis or loss of elastic tissue

Along with collagen, elastic fibers are integral components of cutaneous connective tissue. A decrease in elastic fibers or loss thereof has been described in a number of clinically distinct skin diseases, both hereditary and acquired. In disorders associated with inflammation, elastophagocytosis is an important histological hallmark. Treatment is generally difficult.