Destructive granuloma annulare of the skin and underlying soft tissues--report of two cases.

Two cases of extensive cutaneous granuloma annulare (GA) associated with severe deformity and impairment of function in the involved extremity are described. In the first patient a mutilating, destructive arthritic condition and infiltrative oedema of upper extremities developed over the years along with florid disseminated GA of the tendons and overlying skin. In the second patient disseminated GA of one lower extremity resulted in diffuse induration and chronic lymphoedema. In both cases, histology showed palisading granulomas typical of GA at all levels of the dermis, subcutaneous tissues, fascia, and synovium. The unique clinical features of GA in both presented cases emphasize the local destructive potential and, as yet, poorly understood progression of GA to a soft-tissue disease.