Chinese Journal of Dermatology ›› 2019, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (11): 808-811.doi: 10.35541/cjd.20190323

• Original Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Clinical and pathological analysis of eight cases of subcutaneous sarcoidosis

Miao Qiuju, Song Hao, Wang Yifei, Xu Xiulian, Sun Jianfang   

  1. Department of Pathology, Hospital for Skin Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing 210042, China
  • Received:2019-02-19 Revised:2019-08-12 Online:2019-11-15 Published:2019-11-04
  • Contact: Xu Xiulian; Sun Jianfang E-mail:xxlqjl@163.com; fangmin5758@aliyun.com
  • Supported by:
    CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences (CIFMS-2017-I2M-1-017)

Abstract: 【Abstract】 Objective To investigate clinical and histopathological features of subcutaneous sarcoidosis. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed. Clinical and pathological data were collected from 8 patients diagnosed with subcutaneous sarcoidosis in Hospital for Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College between 2012 and 2018, and analyzed retrospectively. Results Out of the 8 patients, 1 was male and 7 were female, with an average onset age of 50.5 years. The main skin manifestations were multiple painless skin-colored subcutaneous nodules, with no history of trauma or ulceration. Other skin lesions included erythema in 1 case and dark-purple plaques in 1 case. Lung involvement was detected in 6 cases, and no other systems were involved. Histopathological findings were mainly non-caseating granulomas in the subcutaneous tissue with negative acid-fast staining. Of the 8 patients, 7 received short-term oral glucocorticoid treatment and achieved remission or subsidence of lesions, 1 patient was lost to follow-up. Conclusions Subcutaneous sarcoidosis initially manifests as painless skin-colored subcutaneous nodules, which can be complicated by erythema, plaques and so on. Histopathological findings are characterized by non-caseating granulomas. Chronic and mild systemic involvement, especially lung involvement, is common in patients with subcutaneous sarcoidosis, and the prognosis is quite favorable.

Key words: Sarcoidosis, Skin manifestations, Pathologic processes;Treatment outcome;Prognosis;Subcutaneous sarcoidosis