1. Microscopic polyangiitis involving the breast.
- Author
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Devinck M, Vander Cruyssen B, Lambein K, De Keyser F, Praet M, and Brusselle G
- Subjects
- Aged, Anti-Inflammatory Agents administration & dosage, Anti-Inflammatory Agents adverse effects, Azathioprine administration & dosage, Azathioprine adverse effects, Cyclophosphamide administration & dosage, Cyclophosphamide adverse effects, Diagnosis, Differential, Drug Therapy, Combination, Female, Humans, Immunologic Factors blood, Immunosuppressive Agents administration & dosage, Immunosuppressive Agents adverse effects, Mammography, Methylprednisolone administration & dosage, Methylprednisolone adverse effects, Microvessels pathology, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Treatment Outcome, Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic blood, Breast blood supply, Breast pathology, Breast Diseases diagnosis, Microscopic Polyangiitis diagnosis, Microscopic Polyangiitis drug therapy, Microscopic Polyangiitis immunology, Microscopic Polyangiitis physiopathology
- Abstract
We report a case of a 76-year-old woman, presenting with a persistent dry cough, subfebrility, arthralgia and myalgia, weight loss and a breast lesion. She has elevated inflammatory parameters, impaired renal function with proteinuria, bilateral lung nodules on computed tomography scan (CT scan) and a suspect lesion on mammography. A diagnosis of microscopic polyangiitis with involvement of the breast is made based on clinical and radiographic findings, with positive auto-immune serology and histological confirmation. Although vasculitis of the breast is uncommon, this case illustrates that when a breast lesion is found, in combination with constitutional symptoms, we should think about the possibility of an anti-Neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis. Therefore it may be important to perform auto-immune serology in these cases before proceeding to major surgery.
- Published
- 2011
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