title: Histopathology of rhinophyma - a clinical-histopathologic correlation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Whereas early rhinophyma is histopathologically thought to resemble fully developed rosacea, a fibromatous variant has previously been described for severe rhinophyma. In terms of clinical characteristics, recently a new Rhinophyma Severity Index (RHISI) was introduced.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 24 patients who had been treated with wide shave excisions for rhinophyma. Specimens were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, periodic acid-Schiff reaction and a panel of immunohistochemical stains and observed for any correlation between clinical severity and histopathologic features as well as for predictive markers of clinical recurrence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant histopathologic differences between the groups reflecting the different clinical expressions. From a histopathologic perspective, clinically severe forms did not show with exclusive fibrotic changes. Further, there was no histopathologic marker predicting the clinical course or possible recurrence of the disease after surgical treatment. Only the clinical pre-operative RHISI score correlated with the postoperative outcome, with a high pre-operative RHISI being a risk factor for recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Histopathologic features do not correlate with the clinical expression of rhinophyma. An exclusively 'fibrotic' rhinophyma form does not appear to exist and could possibly be the result of sampling error based on small biopsies studied.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schüürmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Dermatosurgery and Allergology, Asklepios Klinik Weißenfels, Weißenfels, Germany.
authors.forename: Tino
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wetzig
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Leipzig, Halle, Germany.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wickenhauser
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Marita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ziepert
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kreuz
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Mirjana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ziemer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003869:Dermabrasion / Q000379:methods; D026122:Factor XIIIa / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009666:Nose / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012224:Rhinophyma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D026122:Factor XIIIa
keywords: RHISI; histopathology; immunohistology; rhinophyma; shave excision