Erythema nodosum
Overview
- Epidemiology: Women 20–40 years, self-limiting over 3–6 weeks.
- Clinical Features: painful reddish-livid subcutaneous nodules on anterior shins, no ulcer, healing with hyperpigmentation without scarring. Fever + arthralgias + general symptoms.
- Trigger Spectrum: Classically Streptococci + TB + Sarcoidosis plus Crohn's disease + pregnancy + oral contraceptives.
- Histology: septal panniculitis without vasculitis; Miescher's radial granulomas = pathognomonic star-shaped histiocytic granulomas around a central cleft.
Differential diagnoses
- Polyarteritis nodosa
- Erysipelas
- Löfgren's Syndrome / Acute Sarcoidosis
- Cutaneous sarcoidosis
- Sweet syndrome (acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis)
Practise Erythema nodosum in the app
Flashcards with spaced repetition, exam questions and spot-the-diagnosis on this topic – in DermaFuchs, free of charge.
In the DermaFuchs app: 7 flashcards · 4 clinical images
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Note: This page is intended for medical education and does not replace diagnosis or treatment decisions in individual cases. Treatment and follow-up content is available in the app.