Subcutaneous nodules in Whipple’s disease

1600-0560

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Medicine

Background: Cutaneous findings other than hyperpigmentation are rare in Whipple’s disease.Case report: We present the case of a 59-year-old man previously diagnosed with Whipple’s disease by duodenal biopsy, who developed red-brown, painful, subcutaneous nodules on the buttocks, thighs, arms and legs. Biopsy of these nodules showed a septal panniculitis and foamy macrophages containing PAS-positive, diastase resistant intracytoplasmic material, characteristic of Whipple’s disease and similar to that observed in the duodenal biopsy. Ultrastructurally, this material in the histiocytes corresponded to degenerated bacilli.Conclusions: This is the fourth documented case of subcutaneous involvement by Whipple’s disease. One should consider the possibility of Whipple’s disease in any patient who presents with symptoms compatible with that condition who demonstrates septal panniculitis with a large amount of foamy histiocytes.

Electronic Resource