Skin nontumor

Dermal perivascular and vasculopathic reaction patterns

Gyrate erythema



Last author update: 1 July 2011
Last staff update: 10 November 2020

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PubMed Search: Gyrate erythema

Mowafak Hamodat, M.B.Ch.B., M.Sc.
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Cite this page: Hamodat M. Gyrate erythema. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/skinnontumorgyrateerythema.html. Accessed April 23rd, 2024.
Definition / general
  • Various erytematous eruptions with a curvilinear ("gyrate") appearance:
  • Erythema annulare centrifugum: most common gyrate erythema, but etiology unknown; may grow over weeks, resolves in 1 - 2 months
  • Erythema marginatum rheumaticum: due to rheumatic fever, now extremely rare
  • Erythema gyratum repens: uncommon, paraneoplastic process associated with internal malignancy (eMedicine)
  • Erythema chronicum migrans: occurs after a tick bite, may be associated with Lyme disease (Wikipedia)
Terminology
  • Also called figurate erythema
Case reports
  • 64 year old woman with pruritic, erythematous plaques on abdomen and back that appeared and disappeared (Case #71)
Clinical features
  • Multiple waves of curvilinear erythema and scale
  • Rash may migrate and be pruritic
Clinical images

Images hosted on other servers:

Erythema annulare centrifugum - pregnant woman

Erythema gyratum repens

Erythema chronicum migrans

Microscopic (histologic) description
  • Nonspecific changes
  • Dense perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate of superficial dermis and possibly deep reticular dermis
  • Lymphocytes are well demarcated and adjacent to vessels ("coat sleeve" or "pipe stem" appearance in erythem annulare centrifugum)
  • Variable epidermal spongiosis, mild ancanthosis and parakeratosis; may have focal vacuolar changes
Microscopic (histologic) images

Case #71

Erythema gyrated repent



Images hosted on other servers:

Erythema annulare centrifugum - pregnant woman

Erythema chronicum migrans

Positive stains
  • Erythema gyratum repens: occasional presence of C3, C4 and IgG at the basement membrane zone with direct immunofluorescence
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