Subcutaneous neutrophilic infiltrates in acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis

A patient had an evolving hematologic disorder, accompanied by tender, red, subcutaneous nodules. Histologically, there were dense neutrophilic infiltrates confined to the subcutaneous adipose tissue. Three months later, a typical episode of acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis (ND) developed in the patient, and she was found to have acute myeloid leukemia. In addition to the dermis, the neutrophilic infiltrates of ND occasionally involve the subcutis. As seen in our patient, the infiltrates are rarely limited to the subcutaneous tissue.