title: Lupus panniculitis involving the breast.
abstract: Lupus panniculitis is an unusual immunological disease that characteristically affects the subcutaneous fat and occurs in 2% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. We report a case of lupus panniculitis involving the breast, which represents a very uncommon location. Mammographically, it presented as a suspicious irregular mass involving the subcutaneous fat pad with skin thickening. High echogenicity constituted the most relevant sonographic finding. To the best of our knowledge, the magnetic resonance (MR) features have not been previously described. High signal intensity was found on both T1- and T2-weighted precontrast MR images. A dynamic contrast-enhanced study revealed a suspicious focal mass with irregular margins and rim enhancement, with a type 3 time-signal intensity curve. Differential diagnosis with carcinoma and fat necrosis and the value of core biopsy are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Unity of Breast Imaging, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Hospital de Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Sant Antoni M. Claret 167, 08025, Barcelona, Spain. jsabate@hsp.santpau.es
authors.forename: Josep M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sabaté
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: Sofía
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Torrubia
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Salinas
authors.forename: Montse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clotet
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lerma
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D015435:Panniculitis, Lupus Erythematosus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D035583:Rare Diseases
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA