A nose for trouble

doi:10.4103/0378-6323.148604

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2015:81:1;93-94

doi: 10.4103/0378-6323.148604

PMID: 25566920

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A nose for trouble

Giuseppe Fumo, Federico Patta, Carla Milo, Luca Pilloni, Laura Atzori

Department of Dermatology, University of Cagliari, Italy

Correspondence Address:
Federico Patta
Department of Dermatology, University of Cagliari
Italy

How to cite this article:
Fumo G, Patta F, Milo C, Pilloni L, Atzori L. A nose for trouble. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2015;81:93-94

A 63-year-old Caucasian non-smoker presented with purplish, firm, slowly growing plaques on the nose, of 20 years duration. The bigger one involved the upper part of the nose in its entirety [Figure - 1], while there were smaller ones on the left and right cheek. All the plaques were asymptomatic and did not worsen after sunlight exposure. His past medical history was unremarkable. Hematological and biochemical parameters were within normal limits. Histological examination revealed a diffuse mid-dermal cellular infiltrate composed of neutrophils, eosinophils, plasma cells, and lymphocytes. A narrow Grenz zone was present. In the lower part of the reticular dermis, the mixed infiltrate was intermingled with a massive deposition of fascicled pattern collagen fibers and spindle cells [[Figure - 2] and [Figure - 3]].

Figure 1: Erythematous indurated plaque of the upper nose

Figure 2: A narrow Grenz zone and superficial and deep inflitrates are noted. (H and E, ×4)

Figure 3: The infiltrate shows many eosinophils along with neutrophils, lymphocytes and plasma cells. Fascicles of spindle cells are also seen. (H and E, ×40)

What Is Your Diagnosis ?

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Answer

Diagnosis

Granuloma faciale

DISCUSSION

Granuloma faciale is an uncommon, benign, chronic inflammatory skin disease. It is characterized by recurrent erythematous papules, which evolve to nodules and/or plaques. ^[1] Over 90% of the cases occur in middle-aged Caucasians, with the face being typically the site of onset. Multiple lesions develop in up to a third of patients, while extrafacial involvement occasionally occurs, usually several months to years after the onset. ^[2]

The aetiology is unknown, although different predisposing factors have been postulated, including radiation, trauma, and allergy. ^[1] The histopathology is diagnostic and shows a dense mid-dermal cellular infiltrate rich in eosinophils, with a sub-epidermal Grenz zone, leukocytoclastic vasculitis, and fibrosis. ^[3] The name of the disease was proposed by Pinkus, although it was first described by Lever and Leeper in 1950. ^[1] Histologically, there is no granulomatous inflammation, thus the term is actually a misnomer. The differential diagnosis includes discoid lupus erythematosus, deep mycotic infections, sarcoidosis, lymphoma, and fixed drug eruption. ^[4]

Numerous therapies have been tried for granuloma faciale, such as dapsone, several immunosuppressive drugs, topical calcineurin inhibitors, dye lasers, surgical excision, ^[4] topical psoralen and UVA, ^[5] and intralesional corticosteroid injection, alone or combined with cryotherapy. ^[6] However, granuloma faciale is notoriously resistant to therapy and has a high rate of relapse. In our patient, therapy with dapsone, 100 mg a day for 6 months, and tacrolimus ointment 0.1%, twice daily for 2 months, had failed. Intralesional steroid injection of betamethasone at a dosage of 6 mg every 2 weeks for 2 months caused the lesion to regress with acceptable cosmetic improvement and without significant side effects [Figure - 4]. No relapses occurred during a follow-up period of 2 years.

Figure 4: After the treatment with intralesional corticosteroid therapy

References

1.	Thiyanaratnam J, Doherty SD, Krishnan B, Hsu S. Granuloma faciale: Case report and review. Dermatol Online J 2009;15:3. [Google Scholar]
2.	De D, Kanwar AJ, Radotra BD, Gupta S. Extrafacial granuloma faciale: Report of a case. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2007;21:1284-6. [Google Scholar]
3.	Tojo G, Fujimura T, Kambayashi Y, Kikuchi K, Aiba S. Successful treatment of granuloma faciale with topical tacrolimus: A case report and immunohistochemical study. Case Rep Dermatol 2012;4:158-62. [Google Scholar]
4.	Gupta L, Naik H, Kumar NM, Kar HK. Granuloma faciale with extrafacial involvement and response to tacrolimus. J Cutan Aesthet Surg 2012;5:150-2. [Google Scholar]
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6.	Dowlati B, Firooz A, Dowlati Y. Granuloma faciale: Successful treatment of nine cases with a combination of cryotherapy and intralesional corticosteroid injection. Int J Dermatol 1997;36:548-51. [Google Scholar]

A nose for trouble

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