Contents

SynopsisCodesLook ForDiagnostic PearlsDifferential Diagnosis & PitfallsBest TestsManagement PearlsTherapyReferences

View all Images (4)

Factitial panniculitis
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Factitial panniculitis

Contributors: Mack Su, Susan Burgin MD
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Synopsis

Factitial panniculitis (FP), less commonly referred to as panniculitis artefacta, is a condition characterized by self-inflicted or iatrogenic subcutaneous adipose tissue injury. FP classically refers to self-inoculation of the subcutaneous fat with various substances designed to produce inflammation and call attention to the patient. However, FP can be caused by mechanical, physical, or chemical insults and may be deliberate, unintentional, or the result of therapeutic misadventure.

Mechanical causes – local pressure or repetitive blunt trauma

Physical causes – skin exposure to cold (eg, Popsicle or ice cube), heat, or electricity (eg, site of electrode, electrostimulation, or electroacupuncture needles)

Chemical causes – syringe or needle injection of disparate materials such as:
  • Organic materials including acids, alkalis, milk, or microbiologically contaminated substances such as saliva, urine, or feces
  • Cosmetic materials including bovine collagen, polymethyl methacrylate microspheres, and polydimethylsiloxane, and, less commonly, paraffin (mineral oil) and vegetable oils (cottonseed, sesame, or camphor oil)
  • Therapeutic agents including vitamin K, povidone, meperidine, pentazocine, gold salts, vaccines (eg, tetanus antitoxoid), glatiramer acetate (treatment for multiple sclerosis), and cytotoxic chemotherapies (eg, anthracyclines, vinca alkaloids, or taxanes)
FP typically presents as indurated, painful, subcutaneous nodules and plaques. Depending on the mechanism, the overlying skin may be intact, suppurative, ecchymotic, or eroded / ulcerated. Patients tend to be young adults or middle-aged women with a history of a psychiatric disorder and/or drug addiction.

The atypical distribution of the lesions will often suggest an exogenous origin. However, the wide range of possible causes and lack of reliable patient history make the diagnosis of FP difficult, sometimes requiring multiple admissions before the cause of the lesions is discovered.

The inflammation is self-limited with minimal systemic symptoms unless there is concurrent infection. In these cases, the patient may develop abscesses and lymphangitic spread if not treated. In cases of deliberate self-injury, the subcutaneous inflammation may appear resistant to treatment or chronically recurring. However, when the affected areas are covered with bandages or protective casts, there is pronounced and rapid improvement.

Related topics: panniculitis, cold panniculitis, factitial dermatitis, factitial ulcer

Codes

ICD10CM:
M79.3 – Panniculitis, unspecified

SNOMEDCT:
238884009 – Factitial panniculitis

Look For

Subscription Required

Diagnostic Pearls

Subscription Required

Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls

To perform a comparison, select diagnoses from the classic differential

Subscription Required

Best Tests

Subscription Required

Management Pearls

Subscription Required

Therapy

Subscription Required

References

Subscription Required

Last Reviewed:11/12/2020
Last Updated:11/22/2020
Copyright © 2024 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.
Factitial panniculitis
A medical illustration showing key findings of Factitial panniculitis : Geometric configuration, Needle injection, Smooth nodule, Intravenous drug abuse
Clinical image of Factitial panniculitis - imageId=4678083. Click to open in gallery.  caption: 'Reddish and violaceous plaques on the thighs (factitial panniculitis).'
Reddish and violaceous plaques on the thighs (factitial panniculitis).
Copyright © 2024 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.