Panniculitis and arthritis as the presenting manifestation of chronic pancreatitis

Although rare, panniculitis and polyarthritis can be the presenting manifes tations of pancreatitis. Early recognition of this triad is critical becaus e of the high mortality rate from pancreatic disease when the diagnosis is delayed. We report a patient with chronic alcohol intake whose sole present ation was severe polyarthritis and skin lesions secondary to chronic pancre atitis associated with extra pancreatic pseudocyst. Both arthritis and skin lesions disappeared after partial pancreatectomy and pancreatic stent inse rtion for a pancreatic duct stricture.