Background: The gluteal region is a complex area of the body that may be the seat of several diseases with dermatological manifestations. The purpose of this series was to study the aetiological profile of suppurative lesions of the gluteal region in patients in Morocco.
Patients and methods: A retrospective study was carried out on patients presenting suppuration of the gluteal region hospitalised in our department between 1987 and 2008. The epidemiological, clinical and aetiological data for 60 cases were reviewed. Skin biopsies with bacterial, fungal and histological studies, as well as bacterial and fungal cultures of pus and anorectal examination, were performed for all patients.
Results: We examined the files for 44 males and 16 females; mean age was 44 years (range: 13 to 70 years) and the average duration of illness was 6.5 years. The various aetiologies were as follows: hidradenitis suppurativa (27 cases), cutaneous tuberculosis (10 cases), Crohn's disease (nine cases), phlegmon-carbuncle (eight cases), tumours (four cases) and deep mycosis (two cases). Medical and surgical treatments were aetiological.
Discussion: There are various aetiologies of suppurations of the gluteal region. In Morocco, hidradenitis suppurativa, cutaneous tuberculosis and Crohn's disease are the most frequent causes. Multidisciplinary management is essential.
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