Interstitial granulomatous dermatitis with cutaneous cords and arthritis: a disorder associated with autoantibodies

J Am Acad Dermatol. 2001 Aug;45(2):286-91. doi: 10.1067/mjd.2001.114577.

Abstract

Interstitial granulomatous dermatitis with arthritis is a new entity characterized by linear or arciform subcutaneous cords. We describe a patient presenting with typical cutaneous lesions extending from the anterior and posterior part of the axillae to the flank. The lesions had been present for 6 years with flares and remission. Histopathologic examination revealed a bandlike infiltrate of histiocytes in the reticular dermis with focal areas of palisading around necrotic collagen bundles. A few atypical histiocytes were also present. As previously described, it was associated with serologic findings of an autoimmune disease, especially high titers of anti-DNA antibodies. The possible inclusion of the interstitial granulomatous dermatitis in the continuous spectrum of the palisaded neutrophilic and granulomatous dermatitis of immune complex disease is also discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Arthritis / complications*
  • Arthritis / immunology
  • Autoantibodies / analysis*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
  • Autoimmune Diseases / pathology*
  • Axilla
  • Collagen / ultrastructure
  • Dermatitis / immunology
  • Dermatitis / pathology
  • Dermis / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Granuloma / complications
  • Granuloma / immunology
  • Granuloma / pathology*
  • Histiocytes / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Skin Diseases / complications
  • Skin Diseases / immunology
  • Skin Diseases / pathology*
  • Thorax

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Collagen