Korean J Dermatol.  2015 Mar;53(3):222-225.

Atypical Lymphocytic Lobular Panniculitis

• Kwon TG
• Moon SH
• Jung SW
• Lee SK

Abstract

Atypical lymphocytic lobular panniculitis (ALLP) is a recently described entity characterized by self-limiting plaques that manifest a waxing and waning course. Although ALLP is known as a benign condition, it needs adequate follow-up to determine the risk of progression to subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) because ALLP has morphologic and biologic similarities with SPTCL. We report a case of ALLP in a 13-year-old girl who presented with an unusual tumor-like erythematous mass on the left thigh but without systemic symptoms or laboratory abnormalities. The histopathologic findings showed a dense and diffuse infiltration of the fat lobules by small-to-medium-sized atypical lymphocytes including focal atypical mitosis. Some cells showed characteristic peripheral rimming of individual adipocytes. However, prominent lymphoid atypia, fat necrosis, vasculitis, vascular thrombosis, erythrophagocytosis, mucin deposition, and the striking dominance of CD8+ lymphocytes seen in SPTCL were not detected. The lesion resolved spontaneously in 6 months and there was no recurrence over a 24-month follow-up period.

Keyword

Atypical lymphocytic lobular panniculitis; Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma

MeSH Terms

Adipocytes
Adolescent
Fat Necrosis
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Lymphocytes
Lymphoma, T-Cell
Mitosis
Mucins
Panniculitis*
Recurrence
Strikes, Employee
Thigh
Thrombosis
Vasculitis
Mucins