DIAGNOSIS OF CUTANEOUS VASCULITIS

Vasculitis represent a broad spectrum of disorders involving vessels o f different types and characterized by various clinical manifestations . The diagnosis of cutaneous vasculitis is usually easy and based on c linical and histological features. A number of classification systems of vasculitis have been proposed. In this review we define small vesse l necrotizing vasculitis, large vessel necrotizing vasculitis, overlap syndromes and miscellaneous vasculitis. This classification for diagn ostic purposes is more than an academic interest because prognostic an d therapeutic differences can be demonstrated among these various grou ps of vasculitis.