Panniculitis: diagnosis and management

Panniculitis, or inflammation of the subcutaneous fat, may present in a variety of ways. It is generally divided into septal and lobular types based on the histopathologic features. The different types of panniculitis are associated with a wide range of etiologies and systemic manifestations. Although some forms of panniculitis are self-limited, treatment depends upon eliminating the underlying cause in addition to using anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agents.