Pancreatic panniculitis as a paraneoplastic phenomenon of a pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma

Acta Clin Belg. 2016 Dec;71(6):448-450. doi: 10.1080/17843286.2016.1168065. Epub 2016 Apr 26.

Abstract

We present the case of a 59-year-old patient admitted with extreme painful erythematous subcutaneous nodules of the lower extremities in association with arthritis and peripheral eosinophilia. Upon skin biopsy, the diagnosis of pancreatic panniculitis was made. On further investigation, an underlying acinar cell type pancreas carcinoma was revealed. This clinical case does illustrate how a seemingly innocuous skin condition may herald an underlying malignant disease. The presence of pancreatic panniculitis should trigger clinicians to undertake further thorough diagnostic investigation of the pancreas.

Keywords: Acinar cell carcinoma; BRCA2 mutation; Macrolipase; Pancreatic panniculitis; Paraneoplastic syndrome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy
  • Carcinoma, Acinar Cell / complications*
  • Carcinoma, Acinar Cell / diagnosis
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pancreas / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pancreatic Diseases / diagnosis
  • Pancreatic Diseases / etiology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / complications*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Panniculitis / diagnosis
  • Panniculitis / etiology*
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed