Traumatic Panniculitis
Carly A. Elston
Dirk Elston, MD
Key Facts
Terminology
Localized organizing necrosis of subcutaneous fat resulting from physical or chemical injury
Clinical Issues
Commonly presents as breast mass in young woman who does not remember preceding trauma (often a kick from infant or child in arms)
Microscopic Pathology
Early lesions have perivascular inflammatory infiltrate of macrophages and lymphocytes
More mature lesions demonstrate fat microcysts surrounded by histiocytes
Top Differential Diagnoses
Cold panniculitis
Factitial panniculitis
 Organized traumatic panniculitis produces a well-encapsulated nodule  referred to as a “mobile encapsulated lipoma.” |
 Early traumatic fat necrosis is characterized by cystic degeneration of the fat lobule  and a granulomatous response. |
TERMINOLOGY
Abbreviations
Traumatic panniculitis (TP)
Synonyms
Mobile encapsulated neuroma
Nodular-cystic fat necrosis
Definitions
Localized organizing necrosis of subcutaneous fat resulting from physical or chemical injury
ETIOLOGY/PATHOGENESIS
Trauma
Physical injury from trauma or electricity
Severity of lesion does not correlate with intensity of inciting trauma
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