Lymphocytic Mastitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

HHL Chan, TPW Lam, J Nicholls, LLY Leong

Hong Kong J Radiol 2003;6:233-4

Lymphocytic mastitis is an uncommon condition associated with type I diabetes mellitus, which is known to be a T-cell mediated autoimmune disease. Hence, it is thought that lymphocytic mastitis is linked with autoimmune disorders. This report is of a patient with type II diabetes mellitus and rheumatoid arthritis who developed lymphocytic mastitis. Since rheumatoid arthritis is a T-cell mediated disease, it is postulated that this autoimmune condition could be the underlying aetiology of lymphocytic mastitis in this patient.