Abstract: Objective To study a group of patients with inflammatory nodular lesions of the legs.Methods The haematological,histopathological,immunological and immunohistochemical data and methods were used.Results (1) The incidence was higher in the females than that in the males (6.09:1).(2) The onset of the disease was mainly at 21～50 years old (73.36%).(3) The predominant clinical feature was subcutaneous nodular lesions of the lower extremities.(4) The attacks and remissions of the disease seemed to be influenced by the seasons.(5) The histopathologic changes limited in the subpapillary layer and subcutaneous tissue.(6) The essential findings consisted of vasculitis,liquefaction necrosis or granuloma and granuloma like structure.(7) The capillaries and venules were affected in all patients and the proliferation of endothelial cells was marked feature.(8) The inflammatory infiltrates were predominantly composed of lymphocytes and histiocytes.(9) The fibrous septa of the subcutaneous tissue showed nonspecific inflammation,whereas,the dermal papillae and the epidermal cells were normal.Conclusion It is the authors' opinion that the disease is a distinct clinical entity,cutaneous allergic nodular vasculitis,and the mechanism might be related to delayed hypersensitivity.

Key words: Vasculitis,allergic, cutaneous