Cutaneous Sarcoidosis: A Retrospective Clinico-Pathological Study from the Indian Subcontinent in Patients Attending a Tertiary Health Care Centre

Context: Sarcoidosis is a systemic disorder characterized histologically by noncaseating granulomas. There is paucity of Indian data on cutaneous sarcoidosis. Aims: To describe the clinical, histopathological findings, and extracutaneous involvement in cutaneous sarcoidosis. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was done in patients of cutaneous sarcoidosis who had attended the dermatology clinic of a tertiary health care center in India from May 2009 to April 2015. The clinical details, histopathological findings, treatment, and response were reviewed. Results: There were 38 patients with cutaneous sarcoidosis. Mean age was 48 +/- 13 years; 58% were female. Median duration of disease was 11 months (IQR 4-48 months). More than one morphology was seen in 28.9%, commonest being plaques (65.7%), and papules (50%). Erythema nodosum was rare. More than one site was involved in 55.3%, most commonly trunk (52.6%). Six patients had isolated cutaneous sarcoidosis. Commonest extracutaneous organs involved were lung (73.7%) and lymph nodes (68.4%). Histopathologically, classical naked sarcoidal granulomas were found in only 55.3%. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) levels were elevated in 74.3% (26/35) with significant association with extracutaneous disease. Treatment included topical and/or systemic corticosteroids, hydroxychloroquine, and tacrolimus. Statistics: Pearson's Chi-square test was done to analyze associations between the skin lesions, ACE levels, and systemic involvement; P < 0.05 was considered significant. Conclusions: Cutaneous manifestations of sarcoidosis are varied, commonest being erythematous plaques. Even though most patients had systemic involvement, we found no significant association of the type and number of skin lesions with extracutaneous involvement or prognosis. Elevated ACE levels were significantly associated with systemic involvement.