Pseudomonas aeruginosa as an uncommon agent of infectious panniculitis

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative bacillus that frequently causes septicemia, abscesses and infections in skin wounds. Panniculitis caused by this microorganism is unusual and there are few well-documented cases, none of them in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus. The present report describes an immunosuppressed patient with systemic lupus erythematosus who developed panniculitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with a review of the literature on this rare presentation.

18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Related "Retroperitoneal Panniculitis"

ABSTRACT

A 71-year-old woman was operated on for undifferentiated lung adenocarcinoma. Four months after surgery, she developed bone and adrenal metastases. She underwent palliative radiation therapy of left scapula and right iliac bone. Thereafter, she started immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy with anti-PD-1 antibodies achieving complete tumor response. Twenty months later, a follow-up 18F-FDG PET/CT confirmed tumor response and revealed high radiotracer accumulation in correspondence of retroperitoneal and subcutaneous fat opacities. The contiguous fasciae were mildly thickened. The temporal relation with ICI therapy together with tumor response and corticosteroids therapy effectiveness led to conclude for ICI-related adverse events.

Complete Resolution of a Case of TAFRO Syndrome Accompanied by Mediastinal Panniculitis, Adrenal Lesion, and Liver Damage with Hyperbilirubinemia

TAFRO syndrome is a systemic inflammatory, lymphoproliferative disorder, but the pathophysiology of the disease is unknown. It is typically characterized by thrombocytopenia, anasarca, a fever, reticulin fibrosis, renal dysfunction, and organomegaly. However, other manifestations have been also reported. We encountered a 43-year-old man with TAFRO syndrome who showed mediastinal panniculitis, liver damage, and adrenal lesions in addition to the core signs. He achieved complete remission with combination therapy of corticosteroids, tocilizumab, and cyclosporin, and remission was maintained even after drug discontinuation at 15 months. Atypical manifestations and complete remission of TAFRO syndrome were remarkable features of our case.

[Panniculitis in modern rheumatology]

AIM

To study clinical and laboratory features of panniculitis (Pn) in modern rheumatology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 690 patients with Pn (615 women and 75 men, average age 39.410.26) with the prevailing referral diagnosis of Erythema nodosum (59.2%), Pn (27.5%), Rheumatic disease Rd (9%), other diseases (4.4%),who had been on outpatient and/or inpatient treatment for 10 years. All patients were examined according to our diagnostic algorithm: general clinical, immunological and histological examinations, computed tomography of the chest organs, tuberculin tests.

RESULTS

Pn with Rd was diagnosed in 140 patients (118 women and 22 men, average age 40.2114.87), average disease duration 31.06 [0.1; 541] months. In most cases (49%) patients had idiopathic lobular Pn which belongs to the group of systematic lesions of connective tissue (M35.6), as well as systemic lupus erythematosus and Behcet disease (13% each), rheumatoid arthritis (8%), dermatomyositis (6.4%), etc. Matching of the referral and final diagnoses was 35% in case of Rd. Among the examined patients prevailed those with a moderate (51.07%) degree of activity of the underlying disease. Within the study group Pn was represented by all forms, but mainly by nodular form (64.02%). Mesenteric form was characteristic only for idiopathic lobular Pn. The main features of Pn associated with Rd were identified. In modern clinical practice the type of Pn and the activity of the underlying disease determine the approaches to treatment.

Azathioprine induced pancreatitis, polyarthritis and panniculitis (PPP) syndrome in a patient with Crohn's disease

Azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine have been widely used for maintenance of remission in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The use of thiopurines is associated with multiple adverse effects including dose dependent cytopenias or idiosyncratic reaction. We report about a case of azathioprine related pancreatitis associated with polyarthralgia and panniculitis. Pancreatitis, polyarthritis and panniculitis (PPP) syndrome is an uncommon phenomenon which may accompany a number of pancreatic diseases including acute or chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic malignancy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Azathioprine related PPP syndrome.

[Clinical Comparative Analysis of Lupus Panniculitis and Subcutaneous Panniculitis-like T-cell Lymphoma]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the similarities and differences in clinical pathological features and gene rearrangement of lupus erythematosus profundus(LEP) and subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma(SPTL).

METHODS

We compared the clinical presentations, histopathology, immunophenotypical features and T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangement findings of 9 cases of LEP and SPTL.

RESULTS

For clinical features, most patients of LEP occurred on head and face without systemic symptoms. LEP patients responded well to hydroxycholorquine treatment with good prognosis. Most patients of SPTL tended to lower extremities involvement and accompanied with systemic symptoms, the patients with disseminated lesions or hemophagocytic syndrome(HPS) showed poorer prognosis. For histopathology, LEP patients showed dense inflammatory infiltrate in the dermis consisting predominantly of lymphocytes with less numbers of plasma cells. However, the dermis was spared in SPTL, and rimming of adipocytes and erythrophagocytosis was observed in SPTL. Lymphocytes of LEP expressing CD4⁺/CD8⁺, as well as clusters of CD20⁺. CD138-positive cells and scatter of CD123-positive cells were also observed in LEP. Tumor cells of SPTL were CD4^-/CD8⁺, βF1⁺, CD138^- and CD123^-. The expression of TIA-1 or GrB was more favor in SPTL. Monoclonal T-cell receptor-γ gene rearrangement was found in 89% of SPTL patients while negative for LEP.

CONCLUSION

Base on different clinical and pathological features, it is easy to distinguish LEP from SPTL. However, a minority of lesions in LEP localize at subcutaneous tissue, which may turn to immunophenotypical and TCR gene rearrangement test for diagnosis.

Rare T-Cell Subtypes

There are a number of rare T-cell lymphoma subtypes that may be encountered in clinical practice. In recent years, improved immunohistochemical techniques and molecular tumor profiling have permitted refinement of some of the diagnostic categories in this group, as well as the recognition of distinct conditions not previously well elucidated. In this chapter, we cover the diagnostic and clinical features of some of the more common of these conditions, including subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma, cutaneous gamma-delta T-cell lymphoma, enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma, monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma, primary cutaneous CD8-positive aggressive epidermotropic cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma, CD4-positive small/medium T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder, and acral CD8-positive T-cell lymphoma. Given the rarity of these conditions, optimal treatments approaches are not always well established, not least as data from large-scale clinical trials are lacking. In this chapter, we aim to provide a summation of current thinking around best treatment, as well as highlighting some controversies in the management of these diagnoses.

[Clinical analysis of subcutaneous panniculitis-like T cell lymphoma misdiagnosed as rheumatic diseases: 8 cases report.]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the characteristics of subcutaneous panniculitis-like T cell lymphoma (SPTCL) in order to facilitate prompt identification and proper treatment of this rare and heterogeneous disease entity.

METHODS

For 8 patients who had been misdiagnosed as rheumatic diseases but eventually confirmed as SPTCL though pathology and immunohistochemistry, a retrospective chart review was made with regard to their clinical symptoms, laboratory test results, pathological features, responses to therapy as well as outcomes.

RESULTS

These 8 patients with a male to female ratio of 1:1 were initially misdiagnosed as a variety of rheumatic diseases such as erythema nodosa, nodular panniculitis, systemic vasculitis, etc. The period from the onset of symptoms to the confirmation of diagnosis as SPTCL was 28.6 months on average (range, 4 - 84 months). All the cases presented with multiple subcutaneous nodules, plaques or tumors which involved various anatomic sites including the head and neck, the trunk, and the extremities. Fever was the most frequently accompanying symptom (7/8), followed by lymphadenopathy (4/8), hepatomegaly (3/8), splenomegaly (3/8). Hemophagocytic phenomenon was seen in 3 cases. A total of 22 times of biopsy involving multiple anatomic sites were performed on these 8 cases with 2.75 times on average (range, 1 - 5 times). All cases demonstrated a dense lymphoid infiltrate with significant cellular heteromorphism located in the subcutaneous tissue. CD(3) was positive in the majority of the cases. Immunostaining for gammadeltaTCR was positive in one case. The anti-rheumatic therapy including steroids and immunosuppressants administered before the identification of SPTCL attained minimal therapeutic effect. In contrast, 6 cases gained partial response after chemotherapy except that the other 2 cases died of fatal pulmonary infiltration and subsequent infection.

CONCLUSIONS

SPTCL is a rare and heterogeneous entity which is unseldomly misdiagnosed as rheumatic disease. The anti-rheumatic therapy including steroids and immunosuppressants can attain minimal therapeutic effect. Early identification by means of histology and immunohistochemistry as well as immunostaining for PCR is critical for proper treatment.

[Diagnostic significance of immunophenotyping and detection of gene rearrangement in subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the diagnostic implication of immunophenotyping and gene rearrangement in subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTL).

METHODS

According to the selection criteria of 2005 WHO-EORTC classification for cutaneous lymphomas, 20 SPTL patients were enrolled in this study. A 10-antibody panel was used for immunophenotyping and in addition, polymerase chain reaction for TCR gamma and IgH gene rearrangement and in situ hybridization for EBER1/2 were also employed.

RESULTS

There were 9 males and 11 female with a mean age of 29.5 years. Immunophenotypic study showed that all the patients expressed one to three T-cell associated antigens (CD2, CD3 or CD45RO), 18 patients were positive for beta F1, 18 for CD8, 20 for TIA-1 and 16 for granzyme B. None of the patients expressed CD4, CD20 and CD56. TCR gamma gene rearrangement was found in 16 of 20 cases (80.0%) and none for IgH gene rearrangement. The positive rate of EBER1/2 was 25.0% (5/20).

CONCLUSIONS

Since the majority of SPTL patients show clonal TCR gene rearrangements, correlations among clinical presentation, histological features, immunophenotype and gene rearrangement data are considered important in confirming a diagnosis of SPTL.

Successful treatment of a patient with subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma with high-dose chemotherapy and total body irradiation

A 24-yr-old man was referred for fever, right cheek swelling, subcutaneous tumor and liver dysfunction. Physical examination showed an elastic hard subcutaneous tumor on the right cheek, left axillary lymph node swelling and multiple small subcutaneous tumors in the trunk. Laboratory examinations showed elevated levels of transaminase, soluble interleukin-2 receptor and ferritin. Biopsy of the subcutaneous tumor showed proliferation of medium-sized cells with abundant clear cytoplasm and hyperchromatic nuclei among the subcutaneous fat tissues. These cells showed CD3+, CD4-, CD8+, CD56- and CD20- phenotype and possessed cytotoxic molecules such as granzyme B and T-cell intracellular antigen-1. Bone marrow aspiration showed proliferation of small numbers of abnormal lymphocytes with severe hemophagocytosis. He was thus diagnosed as having subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) and treated with dose-escalated CHOP regimen. After three courses of the chemotherapy, he was further treated with high-dose chemotherapy and total body irradiation (TBI) with autologous peripheral blood stem cell rescue. Thereafter, he has been in remission for more than 2 yr. We consider that SPTCL with hemophagocytosis is an extremely aggressive disease, and high-dose chemotherapy and TBI should be included for the choice of the treatment.

Hypersensitivity syndromes

The hypersensitivity syndromes are a group of diseases in which the cutaneous vasculature is altered through immunologic or nonimmunologic mechanisms. These reactions range in severity from mild to life-threatening and can be triggered by drugs, infectious agents, foods, or environmental allergens. Although their causes may vary, the morphologic appearance of these entities may be similar making a clinical diagnosis a challenge.

Subcutaneous panniculitic T-cell lymphoma developing in a child with idiopathic myelofibrosis

PURPOSE

Subcutaneous panniculitic T-cell lymphoma is reported in a child with idiopathic myelofibrosis. Both disease entities are rarely seen in children.

PATIENT AND METHODS

A girl aged 5 years and 9 months had pancytopenia and severe constitutional symptoms. Idiopathic myelofibrosis was subsequently diagnosed.

RESULTS

A transient response was achieved after treatment with a course of high-dose methylprednisolone therapy. However, proptosis and skin nodules developed during tapering of steroid therapy. A computed tomography scan of the orbit also revealed a mass lesion in the right lacrimal gland region. A skin biopsy specimen showed a subcutaneous panniculitic T-cell lymphoma. The clinical course was marked by high fever, profound pancytopenia, massive gastrointestinal bleeding, and severe, recurrent infections. Her condition rapidly deteriorated, and she died from polymicrobial sepsis 4 months after her initial examination.

CONCLUSIONS

Subcutaneous panniculitic T-cell lymphoma is a distinctive clinicopathologic entity that is rarely seen in children. The association of myelofibrosis and peripheral T-cell lymphoma as seen in this has been rarely reported.

LIQUEFYING LIPOID NECROSIS (? LIQUEFYING PANNICULITIS)

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