Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma in pregnancy

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Oncology
• Hematology
• Obstetrics

Background:

• A young pregnant woman presented with a two-month history of high-grade intermittent fever and progressive, painful subcutaneous nodules.
• Initial diagnosis of Sweet syndrome was revised after skin biopsy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma in a pregnant patient.
• To discuss diagnostic challenges, treatment strategies, and management during pregnancy and postpartum.

Main Methods:

• Clinical presentation and history taking.
• Skin biopsy with immunohistochemistry for diagnosis.
• Treatment with antibiotics, antipyretics, steroids, and dapsone.
• Obstetric and postpartum monitoring and imaging.

Main Results:

• Skin biopsy confirmed subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma.
• Steroid therapy provided initial symptom relief.
• Dapsone treatment led to complete resolution of lesions.
• Postpartum imaging revealed new subcutaneous thickenings, necessitating oncology referral.

Conclusions:

• Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma is a rare diagnosis with potential challenges in pregnant patients.
• Multidisciplinary management involving dermatology, oncology, and obstetrics is crucial.
• Dapsone may be an effective treatment option for managing cutaneous lesions.