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Pathology

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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Erythema nodosum represents an inflammation of the septa in the subcutaneous adipose tissue (a septal paniculitis) (1)

Evidence suggests that erythema nodosum develops as a type IV delayed hypersensitivity response to a number of antigens e.g - streptococcal infection, tuberculosis, fungal infection, leprosy and some drugs (1,2).

The histopathology is distinctive:

  • early lesions show widening of the connective tissue between lobules and may be associated with hemorrhage (1)
  • a characteristic finding of the disease is Actinic (Miescher's) radial granulomas – these are well demarcated, small, nodular collections of tiny histiocytes around a central stellate cleft (1)
  • later there is an cellular infiltrate containing lymphocytes, histiocytes and multinucleate giant cells

 

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