[Annular elastolytic giant-cell granuloma].
BACKGROUND
Annular elastolytic giant-cell granuloma (AEGCG) is a rare form of granulomatous dermatosis characterized by annular plaques with central atrophy and raised erythematous margins and is usually located on the facial and neck areas. It is characterized histologically by loss of elastic fibre and elastophagocytosis. We report a case of AEGCG.


METHODS
A 72-year-old man consulted for annular plaques, some of which were atrophic, and papules that had been present for 2 years. The lesions involved sun-exposed and non-sun-exposed skin. The biopsies showed granulomatous infiltrates and discrete elastophagocytosis. After ruling out various differential clinical and histological diagnoses, the patient was diagnosed with AEGCG.


CONCLUSIONS
We report a case of AEGCG. Diagnosis was not easy. The differential diagnoses of this entity were discussed and we ruled out actinic granuloma, sarcoidosis, leprosy, and granuloma annulare. Our patient presented the classical annular variant combined with a papular variant. We report the first case involving response to isotretinoin.
Le Corre
Y
Y
Service de dermatologie, centre hospitalier du Mans, 72000 Le-Mans, France. lecorre_y@yahoo.fr
Steff
M
M
Prophette
B
B
Celerier
P
P
Maillard
H
H
D000368:Aged; D004547:Elastic Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D004549:Elastin / Q000378:metabolism; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D016460:Granuloma Annulare / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D006101:Granuloma, Giant Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015474:Isotretinoin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D010587:Phagocytosis; D012074:Remission Induction
D004549:Elastin; D015474:Isotretinoin