Superficial Granulomatous Pyoderma Gangrenosum Involving the Face: A Case Series of Five Patients and a Review of the Literature

Eran Shavit, Michael Cecchini, James J. Limacher, Scott Walsh, Ashely Wentworth, Mark Denis P. Davis, Afsaneh Alavi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare neutrophilic dermatosis characterized by painful and ulcerating lesions on the skin. It rarely involves the face and is often difficult to diagnose. There are few cases reported in the literature of PG involving the face. Aim: To share our experience with 5 patients in whom the final diagnosis was PG involving the face, and to review the literature. Methods: We report a series of 5 patients with a final diagnosis of PG involving the face and reviewed relevant literature. We searched through PubMed and EMBASE using keywords such as “face” and “pyoderma gangrenosum,” “blastomycosis-like pyoderma gangrenosum, vegetative pyoderma gangrenosum and granulomatous pyoderma gangrenosum.” Results: We report 5 patients (4 females) with pyoderma gangrenosum involving the face. All 5 had a final diagnosis of superficial granulomatous PG. All cases presented with nonhealing facial ulcer most commonly on cheeks and a common histopathology of mixed inflammatory infiltrates, multinucleated giant cells, and plasma cells with some granulomatous inflammation. Conclusions: PG can involve the face, and all 5 of our patients had the superficial granulomatous as the most common form.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)371-376
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery
Volume25
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jul 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • blastomycosis-like PG
  • facial ulcer
  • granulomatous pyoderma gangrenosum (GPG)
  • neutrophilic dermatoses
  • pyoderma
  • pyoderma gangrenosum (PG)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Dermatology

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