title: Erythema nodosum-like lesions in Behçet's disease: a clinicopathological study of 26 cases.
abstract: The histopathological features of erythema nodosum-like lesions remain controversial with regard to whether they resemble those of conventional erythema nodosum. We reviewed the clinicopathological features of erythema nodosum-like lesions in 26 patients with Behçet's disease and evaluated the clinical characteristics of Behçet's disease in these patients. The results suggest that: (i) the clinico-pathological features of 27% of the erythema nodosum-like lesions in Behçet's disease are indistinguishable from those of conventional erythema nodosum; (ii) the other 73% of the erythema nodosum-like lesions are histopathologically characterized by the presence of vasculitis (venulitis or phlebitis); (iii) the clinical features of erythema nodosum-like lesions with vasculitis show heterogeneity; (iv) the presence of the erythema nodosum type lesion may be an indicator of the mildness of Behçet's disease; and (v) the presence of severe vasculitis, especially phlebitis, in erythema nodosum-like lesions may be an indicator of the involvement of the gastrointestinal tract in Behçet's disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Nabeshima 5-1-1, Saga 849-8501, Japan. misago@post.saga-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Misago
authors.forename: Yoshifumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tada
authors.forename: Syuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koarada
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Narisawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D001706:Biopsy; D004893:Erythema Nodosum / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010689:Phlebitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*