What Are Subcutaneous Nodules?

Pay attention to the size, hardness, location, mobility, and tenderness during subcutaneous nodule examination. It is located near the joint, the long bone condyle, and the round rigid nodules are mostly rheumatic nodules without tenderness.

Subcutaneous nodules are hard, round or oval, painless nodules. The diameter is 0.2 to 10 cm. Often located in areas with more friction, such as elbow extension, Achilles tendon, scalp, ischial tuberosity or around joints. Rare sites include ear and nose bridges. Subcutaneous nodules rarely cause symptoms and can occasionally rupture or cause infection. Typical subcutaneous nodules grow slowly and can persist or disappear when the disease resolves. The appearance of subcutaneous nodules is closely related to high-titer serum rheumatoid factor, severe joint damage and rheumatoid active lesions.

Clinical diagnosis of subcutaneous nodules

Classification of subcutaneous nodules

Subcutaneous nodule

Soybean to walnut-sized nodules appearing on the trunk, extremities, subcutaneously, or in the muscles, are mostly pork tapeworm cyst nodules, which are round or oval in shape, smooth on the surface, non-tender, non-adhesive to the skin, and can be pushed. The texture is tough, but has a certain elasticity, and the number varies (from as few as 1-2 to as many as hundreds). This kind of nodules can also be found under the skin of the neck, breasts and genitals.

Subcutaneous nodules rheumatoid nodules

Rheumatoid nodules are often present in small numbers at joints and bone bulges, which are mainly caused by the accumulation of fibrin-like substances in the subcutaneous tissue and / or dermis and tissue cells. Its characteristics are harder like rubber, more non-tender, ranging in size from several mm to 2 cm, and adhesion or non-adhesion to the skin. It occurs in the dorsal side of the elbow, knuckle, shoulder process, occipital process, gastrocnemius tendon, etc. .

Subcutaneous nodular gout nodule

Also known as tophus (tophus) is the saturation of blood uric acid, needle-like crystals of urate deposited in the subcutaneous connective tissue, resulting in a chronic foreign body-like reaction. Generally speaking, the outer ear's ear wheel, contra-ear wheel, metatarsophalangeal, knuckle (phalangeal) joint and metacarpophalangeal joint are more common. It is yellow-white nodules of different sizes (as small as millet grains, as large as 1-2 cm), or asymptomatic or painful. Larger nodule surface thinning and ulceration can discharge white evil-like substance, it is not suitable for healing, secondary infection is rare, and it is a characteristic lesion of gout.

erythema nodosum Subcutaneous nodular erythema (erythema nodosum)

It is more common in young and middle-aged women. It occurs in the lower leg extension. It is often painful nodules with symmetry, different sizes (diameter 1-5 cm), and different numbers (more than 2-50). Nodules occur faster, may be slightly higher than the skin surface, the skin is tense, there may be edema around the surface, and the surface is tender with heat. The skin lesions changed from bright red to purplish red and finally yellow. It usually lasts for several days to several weeks and gradually subsides. Most of them do not cause ulcers and scars, but they are easy to relapse. It can be found in infections such as hemolytic streptococcus, autoimmune diseases, certain drugs (such as bromine, oral contraceptives, etc.) and leprosy. Some nodules gradually increase from isolation, and the course of the disease lasts for several years. Nodules are mildly inflamed and less tender, which is called chronic nodular erythema.

Subcutaneous nodular panniculitis nodule

It varies in size from the thigh area (diameter can be 0.5 10cm), medium hardness, clear boundary, obvious tenderness, adhesion to the skin (small activity), it can subside for more than several weeks, and skin depression can be left after subside And pigmented subcutaneous nodules are mostly manifested by panniculitis.

Subcutaneous nodule other

Symptoms occur in the lower limbs and upper limbs, and the nodules that are confined to the subcutaneous tissue and small arteries are often manifested by nodular polyarteritis.

Subcutaneous nodule pathology

Its characteristics are that it can occur bilaterally, but is asymmetric. The nodules are mostly 0.5 to 2.0 cm in diameter. They are hard and tender. The surface skin can be yellow-red, bright red, or normal in color. The superficial arteries are arranged or clustered near the blood vessels, and can resolve on their own for more than a week. Such nodules can also appear on the trunk, face, shoulders, etc., and sometimes occur simultaneously with skin reticulum. The blue or pink tender nodules appearing at the fingertips, toes, and big and small fish muscles are called osier nodules, which can be seen in infective endocarditis. ^[1]

How to prevent subcutaneous nodules

1. Develop good living habits and don't smoke.

2, maintain a good attitude, stable emotions, have healthy eating habits, usually eat more fruits and vegetables, etc., to improve self-immunity.

3, people who must work in heavy oil fume, try to protect themselves, such as wearing a mask, regularly go out to breathe some fresh air, at least once a year to check and so on.

4, away from smoke, alcohol, drugs, radiation, pesticides, noise, volatile harmful gases, toxic and harmful heavy metals. ^[2]