Eosinophilic panniculitis: diagnostic considerations and evaluation.
BACKGROUND
Eosinophilic panniculitis is characterized by a prominent infiltration of subcutaneous fat with eosinophils. It has been identified in patients who have a variety of associated clinical conditions.


OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to describe clinical conditions associated with eosinophilic panniculitis.


METHODS
We describe five patients with eosinophilic panniculitis. These patients had a variety of clinical conditions including arthropod bites, gnathostomiasis, and polyarteritis nodosa. We review the literature on patients with eosinophilic panniculitis.


RESULTS
Eosinophilic panniculitis most often presents as a nodule. Gnathostomiasis, leukocytoclastic vasculitis, and erythema nodosum appear to be the most common conditions associated with eosinophilic panniculitis. Other disorders include atopic and contact dermatitis, eosinophilic cellulitis, injection granuloma, arthropod bites, streptococcal and other bacterial infections, toxocariasis, B- and T-cell lymphoma, and refractory anemia with excess blasts.


CONCLUSIONS
Once a diagnosis of eosinophilic panniculitis has been established, appropriate evaluation for an associated clinical condition should be performed.
Adame
J
J
Department of Pathology, University of Texas-Houston Medical School 77030, USA.
Cohen
P R
PR
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000754:Anemia, Refractory, with Excess of Blasts / Q000150:complications; D000818:Animals; D001181:Arthropods; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000150:complications; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000150:complications; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000150:complications; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000473:pathology; D004893:Erythema Nodosum / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006039:Gnathostoma; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015434:Panniculitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000150:complications; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D017205:Spirurida Infections / Q000150:complications; D013290:Streptococcal Infections; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000150:complications; D018366:Vasculitis, Leukocytoclastic, Cutaneous / Q000150:complications