Answer of Dermatopathology Case 42
Lupus Panniculitis (Lupus Profundus) Visit: Dermatopathology site Abstract: Normal subcutaneous fat, necrosis of adipocytes and classification of the panniculitides.Semin Cutan Med Surg.2007 Jun;26(2):66-70. The panniculitides represent a group of heterogeneous inflammatory diseases that involve the subcutaneous fat. The specific diagnosis of these diseases requires histopathologic study because different panniculitides usually show the same clinical appearance, which consists of erythematous nodules on the lower extremities. However, the histopathologic study of panniculitis is difficult because of an inadequate clinicopathologic correlation and the changing evolutive nature of the lesions. In addition, large scalpel incisional biopsies are required. From histopathologic point of view, all panniculitides are somewhat mixed because the inflammatory infiltrate involves both the septa and lobules. However, nearly always the differential diagnosis between a mostly septal and a mostly lobu