Granulomatous Rosacea in Korean Patients: Diagnosis Based on Combining Clinical and Histological Findings

Abstract

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Granulomatous rosacea (GR) is a rare inflammatory skin disease, which is considered a variant of rosacea, apart from other types of rosacea. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> This study aimed to summarize the characteristics of Korean patients diagnosed with GR by combining clinical and histological findings. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Fifteen cases, both clinically and histologically consistent with GR, were selected and were subsequently analyzed to describe clinical and histological characteristics. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A total of 20 patients showed granulomatous infiltration in skin biopsies, but only 15 of them were clinically consistent with GR. Five patients who showed granulomatous inflammation were clinically consistent with erythematotelangiectatic or papulopustular rosacea. Among 15 patients, 13 (86.7%) were female and 2 (13.3%) were male. The most frequently involved area was the cheek, and none of the patients showed extrafacial lesions. There seems to be a possibility that treatment duration may be associated with the treatment response. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> This study confirms clinical characteristics of GR based on the diagnosis combining both clinical and histological findings.