Abstract

Pancreatic panniculitis is a rare disease in which necrosis of fat in the panniculus and other distant foci occur in the setting of pancreatic disease. The most common pancreatic disorders associated with pancreatic panniculitis are acute and chronic pancreatitis, especially the alcohol-related types and pancreatic carcinoma. We now report a case of pancreatic panniculitis in which skin eruptions, not abdominal symptoms, were the presenting symptom. A 45-year-old man presented with multiple erythematous tender subcutaneous nodules on the shins, arthralgia of both ankles and swelling of the left foot. He was diagnosed as having pancreatitis 15 months ago. Histopathologic findings of a skin biopsy showed focal fat necrosis with anucleated "ghost-like" fat cells with a thick shadowy wall. Laboratory evaluation revealed an increase in serum amylase and lipase. We diagnosed this patient's problem as pancreatic panniculitis associated with a relapse of pancreatitis.

• Keywords: Pancreas;Panniculitis