Persistent Panniculitis in Dermatomyositis

The document described a case of a 62-year-old woman with dermatomyositis (DM) who developed persistent panniculitis, a rare subcutaneous manifestation of DM. Despite treatments with prednisone, methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil, and hydroxychloroquine, her condition persisted. Histopathology revealed lobular panniculitis with fat necrosis and calcification. The study reviewed 43 cases, noting that panniculitis in DM could occur up to 5 years after DM onset and was more common in women. While panniculitis might correlate with a better prognosis, cancer screening was emphasized due to potential malignancy associations. The document highlighted the variability in treatment responses and the complexity of managing DM with panniculitis, with some cases resolving and others persisting or recurring.