Gouty panniculitis, characterised by the deposition of monosodium urate crystals in subcutaneous tissue, is a rare clinical manifestation of gout.
The case of a 67-year-old man is reported, who presented an erythematous nodule on the upper part of the right buttock suspicious for an abscess. This was in the context of chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Histopathologic examination demonstrated gouty panniculitis.
Because infection was suspected, an incision was performed. The lesion was found to be densely calcified and friable, without purulent discharge. Therefore, a surgical en-bloc resection was performed.
The wound healed slowly initially due to a combination of malnutrition, chemotherapy and infection. A wound infection with Enterococcus faecium was treated with antibiotic therapy (carbapenem for seven days) and local therapy. At 6-week follow up the wound showed good granulation tissue and was healing well by secondary intention. The patient was instructed to continue anti-hyperuricaemic treatment.
In patients known to have long-standing hyperuricaemia and gout with nonspecific subcutaneous erythematous nodules, gouty panniculitis should be considered.