RELAPSING FEBRILE NONSUPPURATIVE PANNICULITIS

Abstract

In recent years a number of reports have appeared in the literature of an interesting clinicopathologic syndrome known as relapsing febrile nonsuppurative panniculitis. The condition is characterized by recurrent attacks of subcutaneous nodules, accompanied in most cases by fever and presenting a definite histologic picture. Essentially there are a phagocytosis of the subcutaneous fat, inflammatory cellular infiltration and later healing, often with depression of the overlying skin. The etiology is obscure, although most writers on the subject have found a rather high incidence of focal infection. Previous ingestion of iodides and bromides has been observed in a number of cases. According to Bailey,¹who added 5 cases to the literature in 1937, the syndrome was described first by Pfeifer in 1892 and then by Gilchrist and Ketron in 1916 and Weber in 1925. He summarized additional cases reported by Christian, Alderson and Way, Netherton, Weber and Brill, which, with