Cutaneous sarcoidosis clinically mimicking necrobiosis lipoidica in a patient with systemic sarcoidosis

Don't Go Breaking My Heart: Not Your Ordinary Tattoo Reaction

ABSTRACT

Necrobiosis lipoidica (NL) is a rare, chronic idiopathic granulomatous dermatitis with a somewhat controversial association with diabetes and other systemic diseases. We report a case of NL developing within a polychromic tattoo on the lower leg of a 53-year-old woman. Characteristic histopathologic findings of both active and chronic "burnt-out" NL appeared to originate from the tattoo where red ink was used 13 years prior. To the best of our knowledge, only 3 other cases of tattoo-associated NL have been reported.

Necrobiosis lipoidica-like lesions in a nondiabetic patient with systemic sarcoidosis: A case report and review of the literature

Necrobiosis lipoidica-like lesions, in known cases of sarcoidosis, can be considered as a member of the broad spectrum of histologic changes in sarcoidosis.

Dermoscopy could be useful in differentiating sarcoidosis from necrobiotic granulomas even after treatment with systemic steroids

Background:

Diagnosing cutaneous sarcoidosis and necrobiotic granulomas is challenging.

Objective:

Assessing the value of dermoscopy in differentiating cutaneous sarcoidosis from necrobiotic granulomas and evaluating whether their dermoscopic features will be altered after treatment.

Methods:

Nineteen cutaneous sarcoidosis and 11 necrobiotic granuloma patients (2 necrobiosis lipoidica, 4 granuloma annulare and 5 rheumatoid nodule) were included in this study. The diagnosis was confirmed by skin biopsy. The lesions were examined using non-contact polarized dermoscope (Dermlite 2 HR-Pro; 3Gen, San Juan Capistrano, CA).

Results:

Ten out of 19 cutaneous sarcoidosis patients and 7/11 necrobiotic cases group were receiving treatments (topical, intralesional or systemic steroids ± chloroquine) but still have cutaneous lesions. Treatment duration in the sarcoidosis group ranged from 2 months to 10 years (median 3 years) and in the necrobiotic cases group ranged from 3 months to 16 years (median 2 years). Pink homogenous background, translucent orange areas, white scar-like depigmentation and fine white scales were significantly associated with the cutaneous sarcoidosis compared to necrobiotic cases group. On the other hand mixed pink, white and yellowish background was significantly associated with the necrobiotic cases group. No significant difference in the dermoscopic findings was detected between treated and non-treated patients.

Conclusion:

Some dermoscopic findings are shared between the cutaneous sarcoidosis group and the necrobiotic cases group, yet dermoscopy could be a useful aid in differentiating them even after treatment.

Adipophilin expression in necrobiosis lipoidica, granuloma annulare, and sarcoidosis

Necrobiosis lipoidica (NL), granuloma annulare (GA), and sarcoidosis usually are distinguished by clinical presentation and routine microscopy, but their distinction can sometimes be challenging. Historically, a clue to diagnosing NL or GA has been the identification of lipid droplets in the areas of altered collagen, but such studies have required fresh frozen tissue, making them impractical. Here, we present the first report of immunohistochemical staining to detect adipophilin, a membrane protein in lipid droplets, in NL (n = 12), GA (n = 19), sarcoidosis (n = 12), and, as a control for nonspecific tissue damage, nongranulomatous cutaneous necrosis (n = 13). Four patterns of labeling were identified: (1) extracellular, within zones of altered collagen; (2) both intracellular and extracellular, after the distribution of palisaded or scattered histiocytes; (3) intracellular, within clustered histiocytes; and (4) periadnexal. All cases of NL demonstrated pattern 1; nearly all cases of GA (18/19) demonstrated pattern 2; most sarcoidosis (10/12) demonstrated pattern 3; and nongranulomatous necrosis demonstrated either pattern 4 (6/13) or did not stain (6/13), confirming that the antibody to adipophilin did not adhere nonspecifically to the damaged tissue. An additional set of 3 biopsies with overlapping or partially sampled features of NL, GA, and/or sarcoidosis subsequently confirmed the potential utility of adipophilin staining in diagnostically challenging cases. We conclude that the pattern of adipophilin expression is a useful adjunct in the evaluation of granulomatous dermatitis.

Isolated cutaneous sarcoidosis: a new insight into the old entity

Cutaneous lesions are a part of common manifestation in multi-systemic sarcoidosis and skin involvement occurs in 20% to 35% of the patients with systemic disease. An exclusive cutaneous involvement is rare and it is reported in about 4%-5% of the patients of sarcoidosis. These lesions have been classified into specific and non-specific, depending on the presence of non- caseating granulomas, on histopathologic studies. In the present study, we are reporting two cases of isolated cutaneous sarcoidosis without systemic manifestations, which is a rare presentation. Sarcoidosis will continue to challenge even the most experienced clinicians with respect to a high degree of suspicion and further investigations for diagnosing and treating this disorder.