Chronic Shin Lesions: A Diagnostic Puzzle

A 43-year-old woman presents with an 8-year history of growing, asymptomatic yellow-brown plaques on her shins. Explore this case of granulomatous Dermatitis.

Necrobiosis lipoidica


A 43-year-old woman presented to the dermatology clinic with an 8-year history of yellow-brown spots on her shins. The lesions had been asymptomatic, and she had not sought care for them until they had grown in size. She had no history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or thyroid disease. On physical examination, atrophic yellow-brown plaques with telangiectasias and irregular violaceous borders were observed on both shins. A skin biopsy of the right shin was performed. Histopathological analysis showed several layers of necrobiosis within the dermis, perivascular inflammatory-cell infiltrates, collagen degeneration, and findings consistent with granulomatous dermatitis. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

What is the most likely diagnosis?

Cutaneous sarcoidosis
Granuloma annulare
Necrobiosis lipoidica
Pigmented purpuric dermatosis
Stasis purpuric dermatosis

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