Eosinophilic Cellulitis (Wells' Syndrome)

Lee, Anhi

Abstract

Eosinophilic cellulitis is a rare dermatosis first described by Wells, and characterized by recurrent episodes of sudden outbreaks of erythematous cutaneous swellings often painful or pruritic. Microscopically, the lesion shows diffuse tissue eosinophilia and fibrinoid flame figures, evolution of associated focal necrobiosis, and formation of focal microgranulomas associated with eosinophils. The cause is still unknown but the triggers which have been thought to precipitate the disease include insect bites, parasitic infections such as toxocara, onchocerciasis, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, rheumatoid arthritis and spider bites. However many cases are idiopathic. The author experienced a case of eosinophilic cellulitis of a 52-year-old woman with multiple cutaneous tender plaques of cellulitis for approximately 10 years with history of repeated remission and recurrent episodes. Biopsy was taken from ulcerated edematous nodule of inguinal region under the clinical impression of deep fungal infection, pyoderma gangrenosum and polyarteritis nodosa. Cultures for fungal and common organisms were negative. Histologically, the entire dermis was infiltrated by numerous eosinophils and scattered histiocytes. There were scattered flame figures showing necrobiotic foci in the collagen with accumulation of eosinophils, granulated free cosinophilic granules and histiocytes.