What does panniculitis look like?

Panniculitis is a relatively uncommon skin disorder. It causes large bumps to appear under the skin, usually on the lower legs. The bumps, also called nodules, are tender to touch and may look red or purple. Nodules are caused by an inflammation in the layer of fat under the skin.

How do you get rid of panniculitis?

If you have panniculitis from a bacterial infection, your doctor will most likely prescribe anti-inflammatory antibiotics, which will clear up the infection. Panniculitis caused by sarcoidosis will most likely go away within the first couple of years in which you have the disease.

Is panniculitis the same as cellulitis?

Panniculitis can be distinguished from cellulitis because it most often occurs bilaterally and lesions are often multifocal.

Is panniculitis fatal?

The Weber-Christian syndrome (relapsing nodular panniculitis) displays a clinical spectrum varying from short, self-limited, or intermittent disease episodes to persistent disease with fatal outcome.

What is lupus panniculitis?

Lupus erythematosus panniculitis (LEP) is a rare variant of cutaneous lupus erythematosus characterized by tender, often painful, erythematous subcutaneous indurated nodules or plaques on fatty body areas. 1,2. Profound lipoatrophy often occurs, potentially leading to severe disfigurement.

What does mesenteric panniculitis look like?

It is visualized usually as a heterogeneous mass with a large fat component and interposed linear bands with soft tissue density in cases of mesenteric panniculitis, or as a homogeneous mass of soft tissue density in cases of retractile mesenteritis.

How is panniculitis diagnosis?

Diagnose panniculitis by clinical evaluation (including presence of tender, red, subcutaneous nodules) and confirm with excisional or incisional biopsy. Treat panniculitis supportively and consider anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive drug therapy, particularly if manifestations are severe.

How is a panniculitis biopsy done?

A novel punch biopsy technique was devised for obtaining subcutaneous tissue for diagnosing panniculitis. The skin biopsy area is locally sterilized and local anesthetic is injected (both superficially and deeply), and then a 4-mm punch biopsy device is inserted, but the core is not removed.

What causes a Panniculus?

The panniculus is made solely of excess skin and fatty tissue deposits. In some cases, the panniculus may be the result of stretched out skin and excess fat deposits following a pregnancy. Weight gain and obesity can also cause the formation of a panniculus.

What is cold panniculitis?

Cold panniculitis (CP) is an acute, nodular, erythematous eruption usually limited to areas exposed to the cold. Cold panniculitis results from a cold injury to adipose tissue.

How common is lupus panniculitis?

Lupus panniculitis occurs in 1–3% of the patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 10% of the patients diagnosed with discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE).

What is nodular panniculitis?

Idiopathic nodular panniculitis is a rare spectrum of skin disorders characterized by single or multiple, tender or painful bumps below the surface of the skin (subcutaneous nodules) that can be open sores (ulcerated) and usually lead to inflammation of the subcutaneous layer of fat (panniculitis).

Who treats mesenteric panniculitis?

The treatment of the mesenteric panniculitis is empiric and it often consists of medication. Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, are often chosen as a line of treatment. This treatment guarantees a reduction in the intensity of pain experienced by the patient, as well as an improvement in the other symptoms.

How to treat mesenteric panniculitis?

Due to the rarity of mesenteric panniculitis, there is little prospective data available on its treatment. Nonetheless, corticosteroids and other medications directed at lowering the degree of inflammation and other medications that improve symptoms are felt to be the mainstay of treatment for mesenteric panniculitis.

Is mild mesenteric panniculitis dangerous?

Mesenteric panniculitis typically isn’t life-threatening. It may go away on its own, or it could develop into a severe disease. But while the inflammation is there, it can cause pain and other symptoms that interfere with your life. Your doctor can give you medicine to manage this inflammation and control symptoms. Keep reading to learn more.