Sea-urchin granuloma: histologic profile. A pathologic study of 50 biopsies

Sea-urchin granuloma is a chronic granulomatous skin lesion caused by injury with sea-urchin spines. Frequently these lesions occur on the hands and develop several months after the initial injury. Classified as an allergic foreign-body reaction, their most common histological pattern resembles sarcoid. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the light microscopic features of biopsies from lesions clinically diagnosed of sea-urchin granolomas.

We retrospectively reviewed 50 biopsy specimens corresponding to 35 patients with sea-urchin granulomas. These lesions were caused by injuries with the spines of the sea-urchin Paracentrotus lividus. Data were collected between 1990 and 1999 from patients in the seashore of Galicia (NW Atlantic coast, Spain).

The cohort consisted of 35 patients (31 males, 4 females), with a median age of 35 years (range 14-60 years). The median duration of the disease was 7.5 months (range 2-60 months). We identified different histopathologic patterns. A granulomatous reaction was observed in 39 biopsies (78%). In 70% corresponding to 35 biopsies this granulomatous reaction was predominant. Foreign-body, sarcoidal, tuberculoid, necrobiotic and suppurative granulomas were identified. The remaining 15 biopsies (30%) showed a predominant inflammatory reaction with features of non-specific chronic inflammation or suppurative dermatitis. A panel of histopathologic features, including epidermal and dermal changes were evaluated. Presence of focal necrosis and microabscesses were common findings. In 50% of our specimens we found umbilication and/or perforation. Additional features included the presence of inclusion epidermoid cysts in four cases and squamous syringometaplasia in one case.

Our observations suggest that sea-urchin granuloma span a wide morphologic spectrum. A granulomatous inflammatory reaction was predominant, with the foreign body and sarcoidal types the most frequent patterns. Other histopathologic patterns with non granulomatous inflammation can be noted. Some features, such as the frequency of perforation and the presence of necrobiotic granulomas have not previously been recognized in the literature.