Clinical Characteristics of Cutaneous Sarcoidosis in the Past Decade.
- Author:
Mi So LEE
1
;
Ji Hyun LEE
;
Young Min PARK
;
Jun Young LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. jylee@catholic.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Cutaneous;
Sarcoidosis;
Epidemiology;
Korean;
Ethnic groups
- MeSH:
Continental Population Groups;
Epidemiology;
Ethnic Groups;
Female;
Humans;
Korea;
Lung;
Male;
Medical Records;
Sarcoidosis*;
Skin;
Spain;
Taiwan
- From:Korean Journal of Dermatology
2016;54(4):255-260
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown cause that commonly affects the lungs, but frequently involves the skin. Sarcoidosis occurs worldwide and affects all ages and races that is more frequent away from the equator. The clinical presentation and severity of the disease vary between different ethnicities and races. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical spectrum and outcome of cutaneous sarcoidosis in Korean patients and to compare them with other ethnic groups. METHODS: A total of 33 patients diagnosed by histologic examination from January 2003 to August 2013 with cutaneous sarcoidosis were enrolled. The clinical features were obtained by reviewing medical records, clinical photographs, and radiological images. RESULTS: The male to female ratio was 1:1.8, and the distribution of sarcoidosis by age showed peaks at the fourth decade, which was younger than other studies conducted in Korea. In our study, the most common cutaneous lesions were nodules (42%) while popular lesions were more commonly observed in the studies conducted in Taiwan and Spain. Systemic organ involvement was observed in 11 patients (34%) in our study but was observed in more than 60% of the patients in other ethnic groups. CONCLUSION: In the present study, cutaneous sarcoidosis was characterized by a marked female predominance and by high frequency in the fourth decade. Extracutaneous involvement was lower compared with other ethnic groups. The clinical spectrum of sarcoidosis in Koreans differed from other ethnic groups.
