Lupus Pernio as the Early Cutaneous Presentation of Sarcoidosis / 대한피부과학회지

Lupus pernio is the most characteristic cutaneous lesion of sarciodosis and this presents as an indurated red to blue-purple, swollen, shiny lesion that is often localized on the nose, cheeks, lips or ears of middle-aged female adults. It is a chronic malady that rarely shows spontaneous remission, and it sometimes causes deformity. It generally occurs as cutaneous lesions of sarcoidosis patients with a long duration of disease, and not as early cutaneous lesions of sarcoidosis. This case concerns a 43-year-old woman who presented with a 1 year history of firm erythematous and violaceous plaque with multiple erythematous and violaceous papules on the collumella and right nasal cavity. Skin biopsy showed noncaseasting granuloma. Herein, we report on a typical case of lupus pernio as the early cutaneous presentation of sarcoidosis, which has rarely been reported in the Korean literature. We suggest that early diagnosis and treatment is necessary to prevent deformity.

A Case of Lupus Pernio / 대한피부과학회지

A 36-year-old female patient with sarcoidosis is presented showing lupus pernio, papular skin lesions, cervical lymph node enlargement and lung lesions. Diagnosis was confirmed by characteristic histologic findings of noncaseating granulomas in skin and cervical lymph node, supported by compatible clinical and laboratory features. Methatrexate was administered orally, which resulted in considerable improvement of skin lesions.