ABSTRACT

A retrospective analysis of etiology, clinical features, diagnostic approach, and treatment options was carried out on patients who were hospitalized with a diagnosis of subcutaneous painful nodules.

Sixty-two patients who were treated for subcutaneous painful nodules in our clinic between 2006 and 2012 were included in the study. The patients were identified using a keyword and disease code search of the hospital information management system database. The 62 patient admission files were identified and examined in order to record the patients’ demographic profiles, clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, and treatments for the study.

The majority of the patients were female (80.7%). The etiologic factors were identified as: upper respiratory tract infection (20.9%), Behcet’s disease (14.5%), sarcoidosis (11.2%), tuberculosis (9.6%), other infections (4.8%), pregnancy (3.2%), post-traumatic (1.6%), Crohn’s disease (1.6%), and Wegener’s granulomatosis (1.6%). The etiologic factors for 19 patients (30.6%) could not be determined and were evaluated as idiopathic. The biopsy findings of 11 patients with subcutaneous painful nodules indicated septal panniculitis. Six patients with lobular panniculitis and 6 with septolobular panniculitis were detected.

The major cause of painful subcutaneous nodules is the group of diseases known as panniculitis. Subcutaneous nodules can be caused by many different diseases. In order to make a correct diagnosis and begin treatment, it is important to investigate the underlying disease. However, the majority of etiologic factors for panniculitis are unidentifiable, and the increasing occurrence of those cases that are termed idiopathic is beginning to draw attention.

Keywords: Erythema induratum bazin, erythema nodosum, panniculitis