Clinical and pathological features of generalized granuloma annulare with their correlation: a retrospective multicenter study in Korea.
BACKGROUND
Generalized granuloma annulare (GGA) is a benign skin disorder of an unknown etiology. Though some cases of GGA have been reported, few systemic reviews of the clinical and pathological features of GGA have been performed.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to analyze and correlate the clinical and pathological characteristics of GGA in Korean patients.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective study that included 54 biopsy specimens of Korean GGA patients, and the clinical and pathological features of GGA were reviewed and analyzed for their correlation.


RESULTS
The cutaneous lesions could be divided into the annular (24, 44%) and nonannular types (30, 56%), and the lesions were more common in males than in females (29 males and 25 females). The incidence of GGA showed a bimodal age distribution. The number of patients who presented within the first decade was 24 cases (44%), and 24 cases (44%) were over the fifth decade. Eight patients (15%) had systemic diseases. Especially, diabetes mellitus (DM) occurred only in the adult GGA patients over forty years old. The pathological findings showed dermal granulomatous lesions that consisted of either a palisading pattern (28, 52%) or an interstitial pattern (26, 48%).


CONCLUSIONS
In contrast to the previously reported studies, the age of GGA onset showed a bimodal distribution, and GGA was observed more often in males. The prevalence of DM in the GGA affected individuals was higher than that found in the general Korean population. Therefore, it is recommended to perform a work-up for DM in the GGA affected patients who are over forty years old.
Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine & Medical Research Institute, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.
Jeong Hyun
JH
Yun
Ji Yeoun
JY
Lee
Mi Kyeong
MK
Kim
Young Joon
YJ
Seo
Myung Hwa
MH
Kim
Kwang Hyun
KH
Cho
Moon Bum
MB
Kim
Won Soo
WS
Lee
Kwang Hoon
KH
Lee
You Chan
YC
Kim
Seok Jong
SJ
Lee
Gwang Seong
GS
Choi
Young Ho
YH
Won
Chull Wan
CW
Ihm
Tae Young
TY
Yoon