Granuloma annulare of the eyelid

A superficial (dermal) granuloma annulare (GA) of the eyelid developed in a 69-year-old woman who initially had no evidence of precipitating causes, including trauma, tuberculosis, octopus bite, lupus vulgaris, actinic damage, sarcoidosis, diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or rheumatic fever. She later developed complete bilateral nasolacrimal duct obstruction that led to dacryocystorhinostomy on the right side. Systemic workup showed evidence of a lupus-like syndrome. Although deep, subcutaneous GAs have been reported in the periocular tissues, episclera, and orbit in children and young adults, a superficial dermal GA of the eyelid in an elderly patient is distinctly rare. The characteristic histopathologic feature of both superficial and deep GAs is a necrobiotic granuloma in which necrotic collagen is surrounded by a zone of histiocytes and fibroblasts. This case demonstrates that superficial GA of the eyelid may be associated with an underlying lupus-like syndrome. This case also raises the question of whether GA of the eyelid and lupus erythematosus may be associated with bilateral nasolacrimal duct obstruction.