Is erythema nodosum coexisting with lesions of the breast a suggestive sign for idiopathic granulomatous mastitis?

Özet

Coexistence of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis and erythema nodosum is very unusual. In this paper, we presenta patient with idiopathic granulomatous mastitis accompanied by erythema nodosum to highlight the diagnostic importanceof erythema nodosum and its relationship with treatment response of breast lesion. A 39-year-old femalewith a breast lesion and erythema nodosum was started on treatment with corticosteroids before the results of herhistopathological evaluation were obtained. The response to treatment was very quick. Erythema nodosum totallydisappeared and the breast lesion regressed noticeably within a week. We think that erythema nodosum associatedwith a breast lesion may be a sign suggestive of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis and can be used for the evaluationof the response to corticosteroid treatment. More case reports are needed to justify the use of erythema nodosum asa sign suggestive of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis.