Korean J Pathol.  1995 Jun;29(3):334-342.

Clinical and Histopathologic Study of Eosinophilic Cellulitis

• Kim EK
• Park CK
• Lee JD

Abstract

Eosinophilic cellulitis is a rare dermatosis originally described by Wells as "recurrent granulomatous dermatitis with eosinophilia", then called Wells' syndrome. The etiology is unknown, although a hypersensitivity mechanism is suspected. Flame figures are considered as a characteristic histologic feature of Wells' syndrome. To clarify the nature of eosinophilic cellulitis and its flame figures, the authors have reviewed five cases of eosinophilic cellulitis with its clinical and histopathologic findings. Cutaneous lesions were variable in appearance and was confused with angioedema, urticarial vasculitis, erydiema multiforme, morphea or granuloma annulare. Microscopically, early lesions (2-7 days) showed diffuse dermal eosinophilic infiltration with widespread degranulation, sometimes extended into the underlying muscle. Subepidermal bulla was present in one case. Subsequently, granulomatous features with characteristic "flame figures" became apparent (several months). Collagen alteration by eosinophilic granules resulted in flame figure formation and a granulomatous response. In two patients, there were possible relationships between drug and flare-ups of eosinophilic cellulitis, but the others, no contributory precipitating factors were found. We think that eosinophilic cellulitis represents a severe anaphylactic hypersensitivity reaction to various stimuli showing characteristic histopathology with recurrent episodes and frequent hypereosinophilia in the peripheral blood.

Keyword

Eositiophilic cellulitis; Pathogenesis