Patients affected: most often children
Clinical features:
(1) history of recent (days or weeks) rapid discontinuation of systemic corticosteroid therapy
(2) development of asymptomatic subcutaneous nodules measuring up to 4 cm in diameter
(3) lesions are commonly found on the cheeks, torso and arms
(4) lesions resolve either spontaneously or after steroid therapy is restarted
Histologic findings:
(1) lobular inflammation with lymphocytes, histiocytes and foreign body type giant cells
(2) focal areas of necrosis are often present
(3) needle-like clefts within lipocyte (probably formed by dissolving triglyceride crystals during tissue processing)
(4) absence of vascular and septal inflammation
Differential diagnosis:
(1) panniculitis due to the underlying disease being treated with the corticosteroids
(2) subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn
