title: Perineural and intraneural cutaneous granulomas in granulomatous mycosis fungoides mimicking tuberculoid leprosy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Histological similarities between granulomas and granulomatous mycosis fungoides (GMF) may lead to misdiagnoses of sarcoidosis or leprosy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This report presents four patients with GMF in whom skin biopsies showed perineural and intraneural granulomas that were confused with tuberculoid leprosy granulomas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient 1 presented with erythematous plaques and bulky nodules. Biopsy findings suggested cutaneous sarcoidosis. Tumor resection showed granulomatous infiltrate extending to the fascia and skeletal muscle. Clinicopathological correlations permitted a diagnosis of GMF. Patient 2 presented with erythematous plaques. Skin biopsies had indicated sarcoidosis. Resection of a thigh nodule excluded leprosy, and GMF was diagnosed. Patient 3 presented with scaly, hyperpigmented plaques. Biopsy showed diffuse granulomatous inflammation with epithelioid and giant cells, abundant lymphocytes, and some eosinophils, and indicated GMF. Patient 4 presented with pruritic, erythematous plaques. Biopsy of an indurated mammary plaque initially indicated sarcoid granulomatous inflammation. Biopsy review suggested GMF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlights both the diagnosis of GMF, and granulomatous cutaneous nerve injury in GMF and its possible confusion with leprosy granulomas. The histological diagnosis of GMF includes: (i) a granulomatous infiltrate rich in giant cells, emperipolesis, histiocytic cells, and scattered eosinophils, which may reach the fascia and muscle; (ii) the absence of elastic fibers or their phagocytosis by giant cells; and (iii) lymphocytes that may show atypia and epidermotropism. Deep biopsies reveal GMF diagnostic changes and, in conjunction with clinicopathological correlations, exclude a diagnosis of leprosy and support one of GMF, thus facilitating its appropriate management.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Microbiology Group, School of Medicine, Universidad de La Sabana, Chía, Cundinamarca, Colombia. josert@unisabana.edu.co, gerzainrodriguez@gmail.com.|Centro Dermatológico Federico Lleras Acosta, Fundación Universitaria Sanitas, Bogotá, Colombia. josert@unisabana.edu.co, gerzainrodriguez@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Gerzain
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Centro Dermatológico Federico Lleras Acosta, Fundación Universitaria Sanitas, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Téllez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015441:Leprosy, Tuberculoid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery