Diagnosis: Annular elastolytic giant cell granuloma (AEGCG).
MICROSCOPIC FINDINGS AND CLINICAL COURSE
The skin biopsy specimen revealed palisaded granulomatous inflammation in the dermis, with central hypocellular collagen. Elastotic material was present in giant cells. Verhoeffvan Gieson staining revealed decreased elastic fibers in the center of the palisaded granuloma. No vascular changes were seen.
After the diagnosis of AEGCG was made, the patient was treated with 4 months of hydroxychloroquine sulfate, with tacrolimus gel subsequently added to the regimen. There was a noted decrease in peripheral erythema of the raised borders and a mild improvement in the central areas of hypopigmentation. Centrally located lesional dermal atrophy remained.
DISCUSSION
Annular elastolytic giant cell granuloma is a relatively uncommon disease that primarily affects middle-aged women. Synonomous terms include giant cell elastophagocytosis and actinic granuloma of OBrien,1 who first described this disease in 1975. In 1979, Hanke et al2 coined the term AEGCG in a series of cases that shared histopathologic and clinical similarities to those . . . [Full Text of this Article]