A Retrospective Analysis of 15 Patients with Cutaneous Sarcoidosis

Objective: Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic disease characterized by non-caseating granuloma of unknown origin. The purpose of our investigation was to review our patients with cutaneous sarcoidosis in order to evaluate their clinicopathological features and the relationship of cutaneous sarcoidosis with systemic sarcoidosis. Materials and Methods: The medical records of 15 patients diagnosed with cutaneous sarcoidosis at Erciyes University, Dermatology Department between 2005 and 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Twelve patients were women, 3 patients were men. The most common presentation of cutaneous sarcoidal lesions was the nodulo-plaque form (66.6%) and the most common localization of the lesions were the head-and-neck and the lower extremities in six each (40%, each one). Although all of the patients' primary complaints were cutaneous symptoms, pulmonary involvement was noticed in 6 patients (40%) with cutaneous sarcoidosis. Conclusion: The data of the study suggest that cutaneous sarcoidosis mainly occurs at the onset of the systemic disease. Hence, all patients presenting to the dermatology departments with cutaneous sarcoidal granulomas require investigations for systemic sarcoidosis.