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Lipodermatosclerosis (also known as hypodermitis sclerodermiformis and sclerosing panniculitis) is a chronic fibrosing disease affecting the subcutis of the lower extremities, predominantly in obese white women older than 60. This process has a consistent and characteristic clinical presentation. The authors of this retrospective review of 25 cases (>90% women; average age, 62) describe histologic findings in these patients.
Clinically, the disease appeared as erythematous, tender, indurated plaques or nodules sited between the knee and ankle (mean duration, 9.5 months). Histologic examination revealed septal and lobular replacement by fibrosis, with micro- and macrocysts formed by calcification-associated destruction of adipocytes. Nearly a…