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Pathology

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

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

 

Reference:

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