Atypical lymphocytic lobular panniculitis: an overlap condition with features of subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma and lupus profundus.

To cite: He A, Kwatra SG, Kazi N, et al. BMJ Case Rep Published online: [please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/bcr-2016215335 DESCRIPTION A woman aged 45 years presented for evaluation of skin lesions. She reported an 8–9-year history of occasionally tender, waxing-and-waning skin nodules refractory to dapsone, prednisone and methotrexate. Examination revealed multiple indurated subcutaneous nodules distributed on the upper extremities, with scattered patches of lipoatrophy in areas of nodule regression (figure 1). Her medical history was unremarkable; CBC and CMP were within normal limits, with no history of radiotherapy or evidence of internal organ involvement. She had a positive ANA titre (1:160, speckled), but negative anti-dsDNA, anti-Smith, anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies. Differential diagnosis included erythema nodosum (EN), erythema induratum of Bazin (EIB), lupus profundus (LP) and cutaneous lymphoma. Initial wedge biopsy in 2008 disclosed a predominantly lobular panniculitic process with some septal involvement (figure 2A). Broad zones of necrosis were present (figure 2B). The infiltrate consisted of a pleomorphic population of lymphocytes with occasional larger atypical lymphocytes (figure 2C). There were foci of adipocyte rimming by the atypical lymphocytes (figure 2C). Immunophenotyping revealed predominance of CD3+ T cells with some CD20+ B-cell aggregates. The atypical cells stained CD4 and CD8 in approximately equal ratios. TIA-1 was positive in many of the atypical cells but not prominently enough to render a diagnosis of cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma. T-cell receptor PCR studies showed polyclonality. Subsequent biopsies performed annually after treatment with prednisone in 2008 and 2010, dapsone in 2009 and methotrexate in 2012 showed very similar pathological and molecular features. Adipocyte rimming and TCR polyclonality persisted. EN is characterised by subcutaneous nodules on the lower extremities in association with elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C reactive protein (CRP), influenza-like prodrome preceding nodule formation and self-limiting course. Histologically, EN shows a mostly septal panniculitis with radial granulomas. EN was ruled out on the basis of normal ESR (6) and CRP (<0.1), chronic relapsing course and predominantly lobular panniculitis process histologically. EIB typically presents with violaceous nodules located on the posterior lower extremities, with arms rarely affected, of patients with a history of tuberculosis (TB). Histologically, EIB shows granulomatous inflammation with focal necrosis, vasculitis and septal fibrosis. Our patient had no evidence or history of TB infection and presented with nodules of a different clinical morphology. Ultimately, this constellation of histological and immunophenotypic findings showed an atypical panniculitic T-lymphocytic infiltrate. Although the lesion showed a lobular panniculitis with features that could be seen in subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL), the presence of plasma cells, absence of CD8 and TIA restriction and T-cell polyclonality did not definitively support that