Canine Sterile Nodular Panniculitis: A Retrospective Study of 14 Cases

Abstract

Background: Sterile nodular panniculitis (SNP) is an uncommon inflammatory condition of subcutaneous fat that can be idiopathic, but has also been associated with underlying conditions such as pancreatic disease or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The pathogenesis and clinical course of the condition are not well understood.Objectives: To retrospectively review cases of SNP associated with systemic signs, concurrent disease, or both and characterize the clinical, laboratory, imaging, and histopathologic findings, treatment, and response to treatment.Animals: Fourteen dogs with histologically confirmed SNP diagnosed between 1996 and 2008. Methods: Retrospective study.Results: Skin lesions were ulcerated or draining nodules in 9 dogs and nonulcerative subcutaneous nodules in 5. Most dogs had systemic signs, such as fever, inappetence, lethargy, and multiple lesions. Common clinicopathologic findings included neutrophilia with or without left shift, increased alkaline phosphatase activity, mild hypoglycemia, hypoalbuminemia, and proteinuria. Concurrent diseases included pancreatic disease, SLE, rheumatoid arthritis, polyarthritis, lymphoplasmacytic colitis, and hepatic disease. Dogs responded to immunosuppressive doses of corticosteroids when administered. Prognosis for recovery was related to the underlying disease process.Conclusions and Clinical Importance: SNP is not a single disease. Rather, it is a cutaneous marker of systemic disease in many cases. After thorough evaluation for concurrent disease and infectious causes, immunosuppressive treatment is often effective.

Potassium bromide‐associated panniculitis

“…, O'Kell et al . ). Definitive diagnosis requires histopathology but infections can be ruled out by culture or special stains (Torres , German et al .…”

“…, O'Kell et al . ). Panniculitis for which no underlying cause can be determined is called idiopathic sterile nodular panniculitis (SNP), which is a diagnosis of exclusion.…”

Characterisation and outcome of idiopathic pyogranulomatous lymphadenitis in 64 English springer spaniel dogs

“…Although no gastrointestinal disease was identified in our study, lymphoplasmacytic colitis and pancreatitis have previously been described in dogs with sterile nodular panniculitis (O'Kell et al . ), and could have contributed to the gastrointestinal signs reported by some owners, especially considering that clinicopathological testing and diagnostic imaging are poorly sensitive for both of these diseases. Ptyalism, dysphagia and oral ulcers were reported in four cases.…”

“…Although polyarthritis has been described in dogs with canine sterile nodular panniculitis (O'Kell et al . ), the relationship between IPGL and other concurrent inflammatory processes requires further investigation.…”

“…, Scott & Miller ,O'Kell et al . , McPartland et al . ), and the terms “canine sterile nodular panniculitis” or “sterile idiopathic neutrophilic‐macrophagic lymphadenitis” have been used to describe these conditions and their presumed non‐infectious aetiology (O'Kell et al .…”