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Atypical Cutaneous Presentations of Sarcoidosis: Two Case Reports and Review of the Literature

  • Autoimmunity (TK Tarrant, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Allergy and Asthma Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The goal of this review is to provide the reader with an updated summary of the cutaneous manifestations of systemic sarcoidosis, with a particular emphasis on the predilection of sarcoidosis for scars, tattoos, and other areas of traumatized skin.

Recent Findings

While the mechanism underlying the propensity for traumatized skin to develop sarcoidosis lesions remains unclear, several theories have been proposed including the idea that cutaneous sarcoidosis represents an exuberant, antigen-driven foreign-body response, as well as the theory that traumatized skin represents an immunocompromised district with altered local immune trafficking and neural signaling.

Summary

In this review, we present two cases in which the development of cutaneous lesions in scars and tattoos was integral to the diagnosis of systemic sarcoidosis. We then review the various cutaneous manifestations of systemic sarcoidosis, the clinical characteristics and differential diagnosis of scar and tattoo sarcoidosis, the proposed mechanism by which traumatized skin is prone to developing sarcoidosis lesions, and current treatments for cutaneous sarcoidosis.

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Abbreviations

EN:

Erythema nodosum

TNF:

Tumor necrosis factor

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC 2918, Durham, NC, 27710, USA

    David L. Leverenz & Ankoor Shah

  2. Department of Dermatology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA

    Christopher Henderson

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  1. David L. Leverenz
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Correspondence to David L. Leverenz.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Autoimmunity

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Leverenz, D.L., Henderson, C. & Shah, A. Atypical Cutaneous Presentations of Sarcoidosis: Two Case Reports and Review of the Literature. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 18, 40 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-018-0794-6

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