A 56-year-old woman presented with a two-week history of atraumatic left thigh pain and swelling. She had a background of poorly controlled type 2 diabetes with a recent HbA1C of 134mmol/mol (normal <40mmol/mol). She was afebrile and the rest of her vital signs were normal. Her left thigh was swollen and tender. There were no abnormal skin findings. Laboratory evaluation showed a normal white blood cell count. There was elevation of both CRP at 86mg/L (normal <5mg/L) and CK at 343U/L (normal 22–198U/L). Ultrasound and CT of the left thigh revealed a well-defined intramuscular fluid collection in the vastus lateralis. MRI findings are shown in Figure 1.
The considered differential diagnoses were diabetic myonecrosis, infectious myositis, necrotic neoplasm or abscess.
Figure 1: Coronal post-contrast T1 fat saturated MRI of the left thigh shows a hyperintense fluid collection and diffuse surrounding enhancement within the oedematous vastus lateralis muscle and subfascial fluid collection along the lateral surface.
In the setting of this clinical presentation of a patient with poorly controlled diabetes without fever or leucocytosis, and supportive MRI findings, we made a diagnosis of diabetic myonecrosis. The diagnosis was reaffirmed by spontaneous clinical improvement and decreasing inflammatory markers without antibiotic treatment but only tighter glycaemic control. Therefore, we felt a biopsy was not indicated as it would not change management and would expose the patient to unnecessary risk of infection and haematoma. Outpatient follow-up at two weeks confirmed complete clinical resolution, and an ultrasound examination showed no residual collection and improved muscle architecture.
Diabetic myonecrosis, or diabetic muscle infarction, is a rare complication of diabetes.[[1]] This diagnosis should be considered in patients with poorly controlled diabetes presenting with acute onset of pain and swelling of the lower limbs, particularly in the thigh.[[2]] The pathogenesis is uncertain, but it has been attributed to microvascular thrombosis and ischaemia caused by endothelial damage.[[3,4]] Muscle biopsy is typically not required unless there is uncertainty regarding the diagnosis.[[5]] Short-term prognosis is good, but long-term prognosis is poor, which reflects the underlying severity of arteriopathy in these patients.[[6,7]] Estimated mortality from a major vascular event within two years after an episode of diabetic myonecrosis is reported to be 10%.[[8]] Treatment is conservative with a focus on diabetes control, analgesia and rest.[[1,9]]
1) Choudhury BK, Saikia UK, Sarma D, Saikia M, Choudhury SD, Bhuyan D. Diabetic myonecrosis: An underreported complication of diabetes mellitus. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2011;15:S58-S61.
2) Trujillo-Santos AJ. Diabetic muscle infarction. Diabetes Care. 2003;26:211-5.
3) Rocca PV, Alloway JA, Nashel DJ. Diabetic muscular infarction. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 1993;22:280.
4) Bhasin R, Ghobrial I. Diabetic myonecrosis: a diagnostic challenge in patients with long-standing diabetes. J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect. 2013;17:3.
5) Barohn RJ, Kissel JT. Case-of-the-month: painful thigh mass in a young woman: diabetic muscle infarction. Muscle Nerve. 1992;15:850.
6) Hoyt JR, Wittich CM. Diabetic myonecrosis. J Clin Endo Meta. 2008;93:3690.
7) Wintz RL, Pimstone KR, Nelson SD. Detection of diabetic myonecrosis: complication is often-missed sign of underlying disease. Postgrad Med. 2006;119:66-9.
8) Kapur S, Brunet JA, McKendry RJ. Diabetic muscle infarction: case report and review. J Rheumatol. 2004;31:190.
9) Kapur S, Mckendry RJ. Treatment and outcomes of diabetic muscle infarction. J Clin Rheumatol. 2005;11:8-12.
A 56-year-old woman presented with a two-week history of atraumatic left thigh pain and swelling. She had a background of poorly controlled type 2 diabetes with a recent HbA1C of 134mmol/mol (normal <40mmol/mol). She was afebrile and the rest of her vital signs were normal. Her left thigh was swollen and tender. There were no abnormal skin findings. Laboratory evaluation showed a normal white blood cell count. There was elevation of both CRP at 86mg/L (normal <5mg/L) and CK at 343U/L (normal 22–198U/L). Ultrasound and CT of the left thigh revealed a well-defined intramuscular fluid collection in the vastus lateralis. MRI findings are shown in Figure 1.
The considered differential diagnoses were diabetic myonecrosis, infectious myositis, necrotic neoplasm or abscess.
Figure 1: Coronal post-contrast T1 fat saturated MRI of the left thigh shows a hyperintense fluid collection and diffuse surrounding enhancement within the oedematous vastus lateralis muscle and subfascial fluid collection along the lateral surface.
In the setting of this clinical presentation of a patient with poorly controlled diabetes without fever or leucocytosis, and supportive MRI findings, we made a diagnosis of diabetic myonecrosis. The diagnosis was reaffirmed by spontaneous clinical improvement and decreasing inflammatory markers without antibiotic treatment but only tighter glycaemic control. Therefore, we felt a biopsy was not indicated as it would not change management and would expose the patient to unnecessary risk of infection and haematoma. Outpatient follow-up at two weeks confirmed complete clinical resolution, and an ultrasound examination showed no residual collection and improved muscle architecture.
Diabetic myonecrosis, or diabetic muscle infarction, is a rare complication of diabetes.[[1]] This diagnosis should be considered in patients with poorly controlled diabetes presenting with acute onset of pain and swelling of the lower limbs, particularly in the thigh.[[2]] The pathogenesis is uncertain, but it has been attributed to microvascular thrombosis and ischaemia caused by endothelial damage.[[3,4]] Muscle biopsy is typically not required unless there is uncertainty regarding the diagnosis.[[5]] Short-term prognosis is good, but long-term prognosis is poor, which reflects the underlying severity of arteriopathy in these patients.[[6,7]] Estimated mortality from a major vascular event within two years after an episode of diabetic myonecrosis is reported to be 10%.[[8]] Treatment is conservative with a focus on diabetes control, analgesia and rest.[[1,9]]
1) Choudhury BK, Saikia UK, Sarma D, Saikia M, Choudhury SD, Bhuyan D. Diabetic myonecrosis: An underreported complication of diabetes mellitus. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2011;15:S58-S61.
2) Trujillo-Santos AJ. Diabetic muscle infarction. Diabetes Care. 2003;26:211-5.
3) Rocca PV, Alloway JA, Nashel DJ. Diabetic muscular infarction. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 1993;22:280.
4) Bhasin R, Ghobrial I. Diabetic myonecrosis: a diagnostic challenge in patients with long-standing diabetes. J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect. 2013;17:3.
5) Barohn RJ, Kissel JT. Case-of-the-month: painful thigh mass in a young woman: diabetic muscle infarction. Muscle Nerve. 1992;15:850.
6) Hoyt JR, Wittich CM. Diabetic myonecrosis. J Clin Endo Meta. 2008;93:3690.
7) Wintz RL, Pimstone KR, Nelson SD. Detection of diabetic myonecrosis: complication is often-missed sign of underlying disease. Postgrad Med. 2006;119:66-9.
8) Kapur S, Brunet JA, McKendry RJ. Diabetic muscle infarction: case report and review. J Rheumatol. 2004;31:190.
9) Kapur S, Mckendry RJ. Treatment and outcomes of diabetic muscle infarction. J Clin Rheumatol. 2005;11:8-12.
A 56-year-old woman presented with a two-week history of atraumatic left thigh pain and swelling. She had a background of poorly controlled type 2 diabetes with a recent HbA1C of 134mmol/mol (normal <40mmol/mol). She was afebrile and the rest of her vital signs were normal. Her left thigh was swollen and tender. There were no abnormal skin findings. Laboratory evaluation showed a normal white blood cell count. There was elevation of both CRP at 86mg/L (normal <5mg/L) and CK at 343U/L (normal 22–198U/L). Ultrasound and CT of the left thigh revealed a well-defined intramuscular fluid collection in the vastus lateralis. MRI findings are shown in Figure 1.
The considered differential diagnoses were diabetic myonecrosis, infectious myositis, necrotic neoplasm or abscess.
Figure 1: Coronal post-contrast T1 fat saturated MRI of the left thigh shows a hyperintense fluid collection and diffuse surrounding enhancement within the oedematous vastus lateralis muscle and subfascial fluid collection along the lateral surface.
In the setting of this clinical presentation of a patient with poorly controlled diabetes without fever or leucocytosis, and supportive MRI findings, we made a diagnosis of diabetic myonecrosis. The diagnosis was reaffirmed by spontaneous clinical improvement and decreasing inflammatory markers without antibiotic treatment but only tighter glycaemic control. Therefore, we felt a biopsy was not indicated as it would not change management and would expose the patient to unnecessary risk of infection and haematoma. Outpatient follow-up at two weeks confirmed complete clinical resolution, and an ultrasound examination showed no residual collection and improved muscle architecture.
Diabetic myonecrosis, or diabetic muscle infarction, is a rare complication of diabetes.[[1]] This diagnosis should be considered in patients with poorly controlled diabetes presenting with acute onset of pain and swelling of the lower limbs, particularly in the thigh.[[2]] The pathogenesis is uncertain, but it has been attributed to microvascular thrombosis and ischaemia caused by endothelial damage.[[3,4]] Muscle biopsy is typically not required unless there is uncertainty regarding the diagnosis.[[5]] Short-term prognosis is good, but long-term prognosis is poor, which reflects the underlying severity of arteriopathy in these patients.[[6,7]] Estimated mortality from a major vascular event within two years after an episode of diabetic myonecrosis is reported to be 10%.[[8]] Treatment is conservative with a focus on diabetes control, analgesia and rest.[[1,9]]
1) Choudhury BK, Saikia UK, Sarma D, Saikia M, Choudhury SD, Bhuyan D. Diabetic myonecrosis: An underreported complication of diabetes mellitus. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2011;15:S58-S61.
2) Trujillo-Santos AJ. Diabetic muscle infarction. Diabetes Care. 2003;26:211-5.
3) Rocca PV, Alloway JA, Nashel DJ. Diabetic muscular infarction. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 1993;22:280.
4) Bhasin R, Ghobrial I. Diabetic myonecrosis: a diagnostic challenge in patients with long-standing diabetes. J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect. 2013;17:3.
5) Barohn RJ, Kissel JT. Case-of-the-month: painful thigh mass in a young woman: diabetic muscle infarction. Muscle Nerve. 1992;15:850.
6) Hoyt JR, Wittich CM. Diabetic myonecrosis. J Clin Endo Meta. 2008;93:3690.
7) Wintz RL, Pimstone KR, Nelson SD. Detection of diabetic myonecrosis: complication is often-missed sign of underlying disease. Postgrad Med. 2006;119:66-9.
8) Kapur S, Brunet JA, McKendry RJ. Diabetic muscle infarction: case report and review. J Rheumatol. 2004;31:190.
9) Kapur S, Mckendry RJ. Treatment and outcomes of diabetic muscle infarction. J Clin Rheumatol. 2005;11:8-12.
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