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Updated: Jul 3, 2026
12:18
Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
Published on: February 9, 2011
Subcutaneous sarcoidosis masquerading as cellulitis
Evangelia Papadavid1, Marianna Dalamaga, Nikolaos Stavrianeas
12nd Dermatology Department, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. epapad@med.uoa.gr
Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 9, 2008
Summary
Subcutaneous sarcoidosis can mimic infections, delaying diagnosis. A combination of skin biopsy, chest imaging, and laboratory tests aids in confirming systemic sarcoidosis, especially in atypical cases.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Dermatology
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Sarcoidosis is a multisystem inflammatory disease.
- Subcutaneous sarcoidosis presents a diagnostic challenge due to its mimicry of infections like cellulitis.
- Early diagnosis is crucial for effective management.
Observation:
- A patient presented with a swollen forearm and hand, initially misdiagnosed and treated as acute cellulitis.
- Skin biopsy revealed granulomatous panniculitis, prompting further investigation.
- The patient's presentation mimicked common infections, delaying definitive diagnosis.
Findings:
- Systemic sarcoidosis was confirmed through characteristic chest roentgenogram findings.
- A high CD4/CD8 T lymphocyte ratio in bronchoalveolar lavage supported the diagnosis.
- Characteristic 'panda' and 'lambda' signs on gallium-67 scintigraphy were observed.
Implications:
- Atypical subcutaneous sarcoidosis requires a high index of suspicion.
- Skin biopsy is vital for initial diagnosis of cutaneous sarcoidosis.
- Multimodality diagnostic approach including imaging and laboratory markers is essential for confirming systemic sarcoidosis when invasive procedures are not feasible.
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