F.I.GU.R.E.: facial idiopathic granulomas with regressive evolution. is 'lupus miliaris disseminatus faciei' still an acceptable diagnosis in the third millennium?

We report the case of a 69-year-old woman who presented a papular eruption on the eyelids. Histological features revealed a tuberculoid granuloma with a central caseating necrosis. Laboratory and radiological investigations revealed no tuberculosis and no systemic granulomatosis. Absence of vascular symptoms, inefficiency of cyclines and histopathological findings excluded granulomatous-type rosacea. Lupus miliaris disseminatus faciei (LMDF) was our final diagnosis. On the basis of our findings and a literature review, we believe that LMDF is an entity distinct from either skin tuberculosis or granulomatous-type rosacea. However, its name is confusing, and we propose to change it to 'facial idiopathic granulomas with regressive evolution (FIGURE)'. Copyright 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel