Abstract

Background: Granulomatous skin diseases are one of
the leading causes of morbidity in tropical countries
like Nepal. These granulomatous skin lesions often
pose diagnostic challenge to clinicians as well as to
dermatopathologists. Histopathologic examination
of a biopsy specimen represents one of the most
informative and cost-effective procedure and may help
to avoid other, costlier and invasive diagnostic workup.



Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional
observational study from October 2018 to October 2019,
at department of dermatology, enrolled 142 cases of
skin biopsies. Correlation between clinical impression
and histopathological findings was evaluated.



Results: Out of 13940 dermatology visits/
consultations, 142 (1.01%) skin biopsies were
performed. Head, neck and face were the commonest
sites of biopsies (29.6%). The most common
biopsy technique was incisional type in 70 (50.4%).
Histopathology showed granulomatous features in 49
(34.8%) cases, out of which tuberculoid type was the
commonest, in 29 (58.0%). Positive clinicopathological
correlation was seen in 117/142 (82.4%) for all biopsies
and 41/49 (85%) for granulomaous skin lesions.



Conclusion: Tuberculoid type was the
most common cutaneous granuloma. High
clinicopathological correlation in our study supports
histopathology as an important tool for diagnosis
of granulomatous as well overall skin disorders.


 

Keywords: Granuloma, histopathology, leprosy, skin biopsy