Subcutaneous panniculitic T cell lymphoma mimicking histiocytic cytophagic panniculitis in a child

Subcutaneous panniculitic T-cell lymphoma is a very rare malignancy in the pediatric age group, its association with hemophagocytic syndrome had been described but the association with the skin lesions mimicking histiocytic cytophagic panniculitis which is characteristic of hemophagocytic syndrome has not, to our knowledge, been described in children. We report a child with panniculitic T-cell lymphoma associated with bone marrow hemophagocytosis and subcutaneous histiocytic infiltration with active phagocytosis simulating histiocytic cytophagic. We stress the importance of searching for T-cell lymphoma in patients with panniculitis and hemophagocytic syndrome.