Hemorrhagic diathesis associated with benign histiocytic, cytophagic panniculitis and systemic histiocytosis

Five patients had a histiocytic, cytophagic panniculitis and a febrile, progressive course, which included hepatosplenomegaly, pancytopenia, liver function abnormalities, and a hemorrhagic death. The terminal hemorrhage was characterized by features of intravascular coagulation and liver failure. The histiocytosis could be found at times also in bone marrow, lymph nodes, liver and spleen, and serosal tissues, as well as in skin and subcutaneous tissue. Adequate biopsy diagnosis will prevent such cases from being labeled as Weber-Christian disease with bleeding, and offer an opportunity for appropriate treatment of this new syndrome of histiocytic, cytophagic panniculitis.