Subcutaneous Panniculitis-Like T Cell Lymphoma Mimicking Early-Onset Nodular Panniculitis

BACKGROUND Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T cell lymphoma is a very uncommon subtype of cutaneous T cell lymphoma. The manifestations of this rare disease are atypical at onset, and may mimic some rheumatic or dermatologic diseases, which causes the delay of diagnosis and treatment. CASE REPORT We report a 24-year-old man suffering from intermittent fever and skin nodules on the left anterior chest wall, who was initially misdiagnosed with nodular panniculitis and finally diagnosed with subcutaneous panniculitis-like T cell lymphoma through repeat examination of biopsy of the skin nodule. Positron emission tomography revealed extracutaneous adipose tissue involvement. Subsequently, hemophagocytic syndrome occurred while under a conventional dose of glucocorticoid, but remission was induced by treatment with cyclosporine A and high doses of dexamethasone. CONCLUSIONS In order to avoid the delay diagnosis and inappropriate treatment of subcutaneous panniculitis-like T cell lymphoma, in addition to a thorough physical examination, PET-CT and disease-specific pathologic, immunophenotypic, and T cell receptor tests of the skin biopsy should be performed. Extracutaneous involvement, especially hemophagocytic syndrome, indicated worse prognosis. Even so, cyclosporine A plus high-dose corticosteroid could be an option of treatment.