Cytologic Findings of Eosinophilic Dermatoses: a Retrospective Analysis of 88 Patients

Abstract

Objectives: Eosinophilic skin infiltration may develop as a result of a variety of infectious, inflammatory, and neoplastic diseases. To distinguish these diseases histopathologic examination is usually considered. So far, only a few studies have investigated cytologic findings of some eosinophilic diseases. In this retrospective study, our aim was to define the cytologic findings of eosinophilic dermatoses and to develop an algorithmic approach based on the cytologic findings.

Methods: Patients who applied to the dermatology polyclinic through January 2010 to January 2015 could not be diagnosed only by clinical examination were further evaluated with May-Grunwald-Giemsa-stained preparations by a dermatologist. Patients with abundant eosinophils in microscopic examination were included in this study. After routine cytologic examination additional staining was also performed in some of these patients. The final diagnosis was established according to their clinical laboratory and histopathologic findings.

Results: Over a 5-year period, 88 of 3.214 patients (2.7%) who underwent cytologic examination at our center had plenty of eosinophils. According to the final diagnoses, 44 lesions (50%) were spongiotic dermatitis, 17 lesions (19.3%) were infectious diseases, 13 lesions (14.8%) were autoimmune bullous, 11 lesions (12.5%) were idiopathic eosinophilic diseases, and 3 lesions (3.4%) were granulomatous diseases.

Conclusion: Cytologic examination of people with eosinophilic skin diseases cytologic findings accompanying eosinophils could help for diagnosis of some diseases.