Clinical and Histopathological Evaluation of Forty-one Cases of Pediatric Granuloma Annulare.

Abstract

Granuloma annulare (GA) is a non-infectious granulomatous disease that can affect children and adults. Although many studies have been conducted in adult GA patients, the literature on pediatric GA cases is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the demographic, clinical, and pathological features of pediatric GA cases. This study was performed retrospectively in a single-center tertiary dermatology hospital. Demographic characteristics and clinical and histopathological features were recorded. Forty-one participants were included in this study, of which 66% were females. The mean age was 3.8 ± 2.6 years, and the mean lesion duration was 7.5 ± 10.3 months. The involvement of 78% of the patients was localized, and the remaining 22% was generalized. Asthma (30%) was the most common comorbid disease. Histopathological examination was performed on 21 patients, and the infiltrate pattern was interstitial in 71% of the cases and palisadic in 29%. Generalized distribution, trunk involvement, and concomitant disease tended to be higher in patients with an interstitial pattern than in those with a palisadic pattern. Atopy and asthma should be questioned in pediatric GA cases. There are differences between involvement, distribution, concomitant disease, and histopathological patterns, which may indicate differences in pathogenesis.