title: Cutaneous sarcoidosis: clinicopathologic study of 76 patients from Lebanon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sarcoidosis is a multi-system granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. The skin is involved in 25% of cases. Studies on cutaneous sarcoidosis from our region are lacking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to describe clinical and histopathologic findings in all patients diagnosed with cutaneous sarcoidosis at the American University of Beirut Medical Center between 1992 and 2010 and to compare findings with those published in the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical charts of patients with cutaneous sarcoidosis were retrospectively reviewed. Extracutaneous lesions were classified by organ involvement. Treatment was documented. Pathology specimens were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cutaneous sarcoidosis was diagnosed in 76 Lebanese patients, 79% of whom were women. Mean age at diagnosis was 48 years. A total of 29% of patients had systemic disease that was commonly associated with lupus pernio lesions and subcutaneous sarcoidosis. The most common cutaneous lesions were sarcoidal plaques. The histopathologic features in our series did not differ from those described in the literature, except for the documented presence of a grenz zone. Interestingly, 23% of biopsy specimens contained perineural granulomas, raising the possibility of tuberculoid or borderline tuberculoid leprosy. Foreign bodies were detected in 10% of cases (all had systemic involvement), supporting the opinion that sarcoidosis and granulomatous foreign body reaction are not mutually exclusive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical and histopathologic features of cutaneous sarcoidosis patients in the present series are generally comparable with those published in the literature, with minor differences. Clinically, the most commonly seen lesion was plaque. Microscopically, cutaneous sarcoidosis may exhibit a grenz zone and may show perineural inflammation and foreign bodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Rim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ishak
authors.forename: Mazen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurban
authors.forename: Abdul-Ghani
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Kibbi
authors.forename: Ossama
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Abbas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007861:Lebanon; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010525:Peripheral Nerves; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult