Korean J Gastroenterol.  2011 Aug;58(2):103-106. 10.4166/kjg.2011.58.2.103.

Crohn's Disease Presenting with Erythema Nodosum as an Early Sign: A Case Report

• Kang SJ
• Moon W
• Park MI
• Kim KJ
• Kim JB
• Park MJ
• Park SJ
• Chang HK

• KMID: 1718418
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2011.58.2.103

Abstract

Erythema nodosum is the most common form of septal panniculitis and the most frequent skin manifestation associated with inflammatory bowel disease, affecting up to 15% of Crohn's disease patients. Since the development of erythema nodosum is closely related with a variety of disorders and condition, it can serve as an important early sign of systemic disease. Here, we present the occurrence of erythema nodosum as an early sign of Cronh's disease in a 16-year-old woman.

Keyword

Erythema nodosum; Panniculitis; Skin; Inflammatory bowel disease; Crohn's disease

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use
Azathioprine/therapeutic use
Colonoscopy
Crohn Disease/complications/*diagnosis/drug therapy
Erythema Nodosum/complications/*diagnosis/pathology
Female
Humans
Mesalamine/therapeutic use
Prednisolone/therapeutic use
Skin/pathology

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Photograph of lower extremities on the first admission. It showed 1–5 cm sized multiple erythematous indurated subcutaneous nodules on the anterior aspect of the both lower extrimities.

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  Fig. 2. Histopathologic finding of skin punch biopsy. It revealed the small and medium sized vessels infiltrated by lymphocytic aggregation in the deep dermis (H&E, ×200).

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  Fig. 3. Colonoscopic finding of the transverse colon. It showed longitudinally arrayed, linear, active ulcers with several inflammatory pseudopolyps and normal looking background mucosa.

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  Fig. 4. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopic finding. It showed multiple linear erythematous and erosive lesions on the antrum.

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  Fig. 5. Histopathologic finding of gastric antral lesions. It showed granuloma-like lesion with lymphocyte aggregation (H&E, ×200).

Reference

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