[Subcutaneous panniculitis at a third level hospital retrospective study of 113 cases]

The panniculitides or hypodermitis are a wide and heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by the presence of subcutaneous inflammatory nodules located generally in low limbs.

Show the clinicopathologic characteristics of the cases diagnosed as panniculitis for a 5 years period; their epidemiology, etiopathogenic factors, evolution and treatment.

A retrospective study of 113 patients diagnosed as panniculitis by histopathologic report of cutaneous biopsy since 1997 to 2001 were performed.

The sex proportion was of 4.65 women to every man. The mean age of these patients was 49 +/- 20 years old. 100% had legs affectation, 7.1% in arms, 5.9% in trunk and 0.9% in face. 9.7% presented fever and arthromyialgias, especially in young people (p < 0.05). The etiopathogenic factors implied were tuberculosis, streptococcic pharyngoamygdalitis, sarcoidosis and different drugs. The most frequent histological pattern was septal panniculitis without vasculitis. 24.8% did not realize any treatment; 32.5% took nonsteroideal anti-inflammatory drugs; 31.6% potassium iodide; 16% systemic corticosteroids and 7.1% tuberculostatic drugs. Evolution of the patients was good and independently from the treatment performed.

Panniculitides are a group of diseases with similar clinic, but very heterogeneous in their etiology and histopathologic findings. They are more frequent in women and with more expressive clinic in young people. Up to in the 59.3% of the studied cases a causal etiologic agent was identified. These factors are compatible with the published ones in other previous panniculitis series. When a paniculitis is suspected, the most efficient tool is the clinical diagnosis. Histological confirmation by cutaneous biopsy it must be done when it is possible.