Panniculitis
Pronunciation: pan-ik-yoo-LY-tis
Inflammation of the subcutaneous fat layer (panniculus adiposus), presenting clinically as tender subcutaneous nodules or plaques.
Full Definition
Panniculitis is a heterogeneous group of inflammatory conditions affecting the adipose tissue of the hypodermis, classified histologically as either septal (involving fibrous septa) or lobular (involving fat lobules), with or without vasculitis. Erythema nodosum is the prototypical septal panniculitis, while lupus panniculitis and pancreatic panniculitis exemplify lobular variants. Editors should be aware that the term is often qualified by an aetiological modifier (e.g., cold-induced panniculitis, factitious panniculitis) which should not be omitted in clinical documents. The plural form 'panniculitides' is standard in academic dermatology literature. Misrendering as 'paniculitis' (single 'n') is a common typographic error.
Usage
Usage note: Double 'n' — 'panniculitis', not 'paniculitis'. Plural: 'panniculitides' in academic contexts.
In Context
- "Histopathology confirmed lobular panniculitis consistent with lupus profundus." — Histopathology report
- "The author's repeated misspelling 'paniculitis' was flagged and corrected throughout the manuscript." — Journal copyedit