title: Fat necrosis. An unusual cause of polyarthritis.
abstract: Metastatic fat necrosis is a form of lobular panniculitis which together with synovitis is an unusual complication of pancreatic disease. It can precede an attack of pancreatitis. Pancreatic disease should therefore be remembered as a cause of panniculitis. Serum amylase and abdominal ultrasonography should be considered to exclude pancreatic disease in cases of panniculitis of uncertain etiology. We describe a case of metastatic fat necrosis and discuss the appearance on magnetic resonance imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Radiology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hacking
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lomas
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Hazleman
mesh_terms: D001168:Arthritis / Q000209:etiology*; D001175:Arthrography; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005218:Fat Necrosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000175:diagnosis