Superficial Granulomatous Pyoderma Gangrenosum Involving the Face: A Case Series of Five Patients and a Review of the Literature

Abstract

Background Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare neutrophilic dermatosis characterized by painful and ulcerating lesions on the skin. It rarely involves the face and is often difficult to diagnose. There are few cases reported in the literature of PG involving the face. Aim To share our experience with 5 patients in whom the final diagnosis was PG involving the face, and to review the literature. Methods We report a series of 5 patients with a final diagnosis of PG involving the face and reviewed relevant literature. We searched through PubMed and EMBASE using keywords such as “face” and “pyoderma gangrenosum,” “blastomycosis-like pyoderma gangrenosum, vegetative pyoderma gangrenosum and granulomatous pyoderma gangrenosum.” Results We report 5 patients (4 females) with pyoderma gangrenosum involving the face. All 5 had a final diagnosis of superficial granulomatous PG. All cases presented with nonhealing facial ulcer most commonly on cheeks and a common histopathology of mixed inflammatory infiltrates, multinucleated giant cells, and plasma cells with some granulomatous inflammation. Conclusions PG can involve the face, and all 5 of our patients had the superficial granulomatous as the most common form.