Breast involvement in mixed connective tissue disease

Abstract

To date, mammographic involvement in mixed connective tissue disease has not been described in the literature to the authors’ knowledge. In addition, only 2 case reports have described panniculitis in mixed connective tissue disease. We present a patient with mixed connective tissue disease with coarse sheet-like calcifications on mammography bilaterally, which increased over time corresponding to rise in levels of anti-dsDNA. Biopsy showed fat necrosis with calcifications, chronic inflammation and fibrosis, vasculitis, as well as CD3, CD4, and CD8+ T cells and CD20+ B cells. These findings are similar histologically and mammographically to “lupus mastitis.”

Lupus Mastitis in a Young Female Mimicking a Breast Carcinoma; a Rare Entity Through a Case Report and Review of the Literature

“…In addition, there is often a marked improvement of symptoms with immunosuppressive therapy (1). The manifestations of lupus mastitis include masses in the breast, axillary lymphadenopathy, fat necrosis, fibrosis, and calcifications (7). Our patient had the same typical findings.…”

Mastitis in Autoimmune Diseases: Review of the Literature, Diagnostic Pathway, and Pathophysiological Key Players

“…Breast involvement has also been reported in one patient with mixed connective tissue disease [46]. In this case, a breast screening strategy led to the discovery of suspicious groups of coarse, sheet-like calcifications.…”