Leg muscle involvement in polyarteritis nodosa (limited form)—A rare case report

Abstract

Polyarteritis nodosa is a necrotizing arteritis involving small and medium vessels. Polyarteritis nodosa can have variable presentations depending upon the organ involved. It can either present as a diffuse disease or a limited form confined to a particular organ. Isolated muscular involvement in this disease is rare, which may present as myalgia, nonspecific fever, weight loss or even as claudication. The imaging pattern on ultrasound and MRI can help diagnose this condition in the background of clinical history and muscle biopsy is confirmatory. We present a case of 15 years old boy who presented with fever, weight loss, myalgia in leg region. MRI and ultrasound examination showed perivascular inflammation in calf muscles with a characteristic “cotton wool” pattern of enhancement on contrast study.

Keywords

• Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN)
• Limited form
• Vasculitis