Sarcoidosis with necrobiosis-lipoidica-like skin lesions: A challenge for the dermatologist.

Abstract

Necrobiosis lipoidica (NL) and cutaneous sarcoidosis are granulomatous skin disorders of unknown etiology. 1 Although these two diseases are distinct, they share histopathological and clinical features and, occasionally, one may mimic the other. 2 Only a few cases of concomitant NL and sarcoidosis have been reported. 3 Sarcoidosis is characterized by the formation of epithelioid and giant cell granulomas without caseous necrosis, and it may affect not only the skin but also many organs, most frequently (90%‐95% of cases) affecting the lungs. 4 , 5 Classic cutaneous lesions are erythematous papules, which become confluent forming a painless infiltrated plaque. 6 These lesions may be seen in any part of the body, especially on the face, superior chest and extensor face of the limbs. 7 In this report, a female patient, non‐diabetic, who was followed up along 20 years, presented different features of cutaneous sarcoidosis with no evidence of systemic invovement.