FAT NECROSIS - AN UNUSUAL CAUSE OF POLYARTHRITIS

Metastatic fat necrosis is a form of lobular panniculitis which togeth er with synovitis is an unusual complication of pancreatic disease. It can precede an attack of pancreatitis. Pancreatic disease should ther efore be remembered as a cause of panniculitis. Serum amylase and abdo minal ultrasonography should be considered to exclude pancreatic disea se in cases of panniculitis of uncertain etiology. We describe a case of metastatic fat necrosis and discuss the appearance on magnetic reso nance imaging.