Clinical and radiological aspects of idiopathic diabetic muscle infarction- Rational approach to diagnosis and treatment

The systemic effects of diabetes mellitus are well recognised, The heart, k idney, central and peripheral nervous systems, and the distal parts of the limbs are often the site of end-organ damage resulting from ischaemia, Infa rction of large muscle groups in the limb, not associated with gangrene, is uncommon. There have been few reported cases other than radiological descr iptions of diabetic muscle infarcts, While previous reports have illustrate d some of the clinical and radiological characteristics of this condition, the paucity of published cases makes it difficult to determine the most app ropriate methods of diagnosis and treatment. During a five-year period we treated 14 patients with diabetes mellitus, ag ed from 32 to 59 years, who were referred to a musculoskeletal oncology ser vice for suspected soft-tissue sarcoma, but were subsequently found to have a diabetic muscle infarct, Closed needle biopsy was performed in 13 withou t complications. In 12 patients, the symptoms resolved without surgical tre atment.