FOCAL MYOSITIS PRESENTING AS PSEUDOTHROMBOPHLEBITIS OF THE NECK IN A PATIENT WITH MIXED CONNECTIVE-TISSUE DISEASE

This report describes a case of focal myositis in a patient with mixed connective tissue disease. The patient presented with diffuse neck sw elling and pseudo-thrombophlebitis of the left internal jugular vein, Other clinical features included a high fever, elevated erythrocyte se dimentation rate, and prompt improvement after administration of high- dose intravenous corticosteroid therapy. Criteria for polymyositis wer e absent, serum levels of creatine kinase remained normal, and there w as no sign of recurrence during 3 years of followup. Results of immuno precipitation for anti-Jo-1 and other myositis-specific autoantibodies remained negative in serial serum samples obtained before, during, an d after the episode.