Korean J Pathol.  2009 Dec;43(6):566-569. 10.4132/KoreanJPathol.2009.43.6.566.

A Case of Pancreatitis Presenting with Pancreatic Panniculitis: A Case Report

• Kim SH
• Chang SH
• Park HJ

• KMID: 1472644
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4132/KoreanJPathol.2009.43.6.566

Abstract

Pancreatic panniculitis is a rare disease in which necrosis of fat in the panniculus and other distant foci occur in the setting of pancreatic disease. The most common pancreatic disorders associated with pancreatic panniculitis are acute and chronic pancreatitis, especially the alcohol-related types and pancreatic carcinoma. We now report a case of pancreatic panniculitis in which skin eruptions, not abdominal symptoms, were the presenting symptom. A 45-year-old man presented with multiple erythematous tender subcutaneous nodules on the shins, arthralgia of both ankles and swelling of the left foot. He was diagnosed as having pancreatitis 15 months ago. Histopathologic findings of a skin biopsy showed focal fat necrosis with anucleated "ghost-like" fat cells with a thick shadowy wall. Laboratory evaluation revealed an increase in serum amylase and lipase. We diagnosed this patient's problem as pancreatic panniculitis associated with a relapse of pancreatitis.

Keyword

Pancreas; Panniculitis

MeSH Terms

Adipocytes
Amylases
Animals
Ankle
Arthralgia
Biopsy
Fat Necrosis
Foot
Humans
Lipase
Middle Aged
Necrosis
Pancreas
Pancreatic Diseases
Pancreatic Neoplasms
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis, Chronic
Panniculitis
Rare Diseases
Recurrence
Skin
Amylases
Lipase
Pancreatic Neoplasms