Lupus Erythematosus Tumidus Mimicking Erythema Nodosum: A Diagnostic Challenge.

Thanda Aung, Kaitlin Eblen, Joshua Pierce, Gregory Gates

Abstract readCase Reports

In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

0citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Thanda AungRheumatology, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA.

Kaitlin EblenRheumatology, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA.

Joshua PierceDermatopathology, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA.

Gregory GatesDermatopathology, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Lupus erythematosus tumidus (LET) is an uncommon variant of cutaneous lupus that may clinically resemble other inflammatory dermatoses, leading to diagnostic delay. We report the case of a 36-year-old woman with a four-year history of recurrent erythematous nodules initially diagnosed as erythema nodosum. Serologic evaluation revealed a strongly positive antinuclear antibody (1:1280) and elevated anti-double-stranded DNA (1:160) titers. Given persistent symptoms and incongruent clinical findings, a repeat skin biopsy was performed and confirmed the diagnosis of tumid lupus. Treatment with hydroxychloroquine resulted in complete resolution of cutaneous lesions and normalization of serologic markers. This case highlights the potential for atypical presentations of LET and underscores the importance of histopathologic confirmation when the clinical course is inconsistent with the initial diagnosis.

Indexed as

erythema nodosumhydroxychloroquinelupus erythematosus tumidusplaquenilsystemic lupus erythematosustumid lupus

Identifiers

PMID41939593

DOI10.7759/cureus.104616

PMCPMC13045918

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY

Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.