Granuloma annulare: a review of 41 cases at the National Skin Centre.
BACKGROUND
Granuloma annulare (GA) is a benign, inflammatory skin disorder that has no proven aetiology or widely accepted theory of pathogenesis. We present the results of a local study examining the characteristics of this disorder.


METHODS
This is a retrospective study of 41 patients with granuloma annulare seen at a tertiary dermatological skin hospital in Singapore. The disease was classified based on whether it was localised or generalised. Remission rates and associated diseases were documented.


RESULTS
The majority (93.9%) of lesions were localised. GA tends to occur within the first three decades of life, and 39.4% of patients were 10 years old and below. There was a slight female preponderance, and no predilection for any particular racial group. Remissions were seen in 67.6% of patients who were followed up for at least 12 months, and remissions only occurred with the localised form of GA. There were 4 cases of disseminated GA and 1 case of perforating GA. There were 6 patients with associated diabetes mellitus, 2 with pulmonary tuberculosis, and 4 patients each with hypercholesterolaemia and a history of atopy.


CONCLUSIONS
The characteristics of GA in our local population do not differ significantly from that of overseas studies. While localised forms of GA have a high chance of resolving, the generalised forms of the disease are difficult to treat and do not tend to resolve totally.
National Skin Centre, 1 Mandalay Road, Singapore 308205.
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004423:Ear; D005260:Female; D016460:Granuloma Annulare / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D013909:Thorax