Aaron R Mangold1, Helen J L Cumsky2, Collin M Costello3, Daniel Y Xie4, Matthew R Buras5, Steven A Nelson6, David J DiCaudo6, Aleksandar Sekulic6, Mark R Pittelkow6. 1. Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona. Electronic address: Mangold.aaron@mayo.edu. 2. Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona; Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio. 3. Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona; University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona. 4. University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona. 5. Department of Health Science Research, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona. 6. Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Granuloma annulare (GA) is a granulomatous skin eruption rarely associated with cancer. We report seven cases of paraneoplastic GA in association with solid organ malignancy. OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical and histopathological features of paraneoplastic GA to case-matched controls of classic GA. METHODS: Retrospective chart and histopathological review of 7 individuals and 13 age- and sex-matched controls. Paraneoplastic GA was defined as GA occurring within 6 months of the diagnosis of solid organ malignancy and/or persistent GA that resolved with cancer treatment. RESULTS: Most cases of paraneoplastic GA were associated with lung cancer (4/7). The clinical and histopathological features of paraneoplastic and classic GA were similar. Compared to classic GA, paraneoplastic GA cases were more often generalized disease (6/7 vs 6/13), refractory to treatment, and had a perivascular inflammatory cell infiltrate (5/7 vs 2/13). All cases of paraneoplastic GA that underwent definitive treatment of their cancer improved. LIMITATIONS: Single-institution, retrospective review with a small sample size. CONCLUSION: Paraneoplastic GA is rare, similar to classic GA, and refractory to treatment. We advocate for age-appropriate screening in individuals with GA that is nonresponsive to multiple lines of systemic treatment and evaluating patients with concerning signs or symptoms for an underlying neoplasm.
BACKGROUND:Granuloma annulare (GA) is a granulomatous skin eruption rarely associated with cancer. We report seven cases of paraneoplastic GA in association with solid organ malignancy. OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical and histopathological features of paraneoplastic GA to case-matched controls of classic GA. METHODS: Retrospective chart and histopathological review of 7 individuals and 13 age- and sex-matched controls. Paraneoplastic GA was defined as GA occurring within 6 months of the diagnosis of solid organ malignancy and/or persistent GA that resolved with cancer treatment. RESULTS: Most cases of paraneoplastic GA were associated with lung cancer (4/7). The clinical and histopathological features of paraneoplastic and classic GA were similar. Compared to classic GA, paraneoplastic GA cases were more often generalized disease (6/7 vs 6/13), refractory to treatment, and had a perivascular inflammatory cell infiltrate (5/7 vs 2/13). All cases of paraneoplastic GA that underwent definitive treatment of their cancer improved. LIMITATIONS: Single-institution, retrospective review with a small sample size. CONCLUSION:Paraneoplastic GA is rare, similar to classic GA, and refractory to treatment. We advocate for age-appropriate screening in individuals with GA that is nonresponsive to multiple lines of systemic treatment and evaluating patients with concerning signs or symptoms for an underlying neoplasm.