A Limited Polyarteritis Nodosa of the Breast / 대한류마티스학회지

ABSTRACT

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by a necrotizing vasculitis of small and medium-sized artery, which can involve several organs, such as, the kidney, skin, peripheral nerves, muscle, heart, and gastrointestinal tract. In addition to systemic involvement of the classical PAN, a localized disease of the gallbladder, uterus, testis, and skin has been reported. In particular, a limited involvement of the breast is an unusual manifestation of PAN and usually runs a favorable prognosis when compared with the classical PAN. We describe a 64-year-old female patient who had a limited disease of PAN on both the breasts. She presented with mass-like lesions on both the breasts. After surgical excision of the breast lesions, she has been doing well with only a low dosage of prednisolone.