SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Sweet Syndrome Isn't Always Sour: A Complicated Case of Classical Sweet Syndrome

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This case describes a 56-year-old woman who presented with fever, headache, nasal congestion, and myalgia, and later developed a painful rash on the breasts and inframammary folds after receiving antibiotics for pneumonia. On exam, she was febrile and tachycardic, with leukocytosis and a chest X-ray showing a hazy lower-lobe opacity consistent with infection.<br /><br />A punch biopsy of the rash demonstrated neutrophilic dermatosis, confirming Sweet syndrome. Her skin lesions progressed over one week from umbilicated papulonodular lesions to ulcerative plaques. She was treated with high-dose corticosteroids, which led to rapid improvement in both fever and rash.<br /><br />The report emphasizes that Sweet syndrome can be triggered by infection, malignancy, drugs, or pregnancy. In this case, an incidental breast lesion initially distracted from the more likely infectious trigger, highlighting the importance of considering Sweet syndrome in patients with post-infectious or drug-associated rashes. The authors note that idiopathic, infection-associated, and malignancy-associated Sweet syndrome are the most common forms.<br /><br />Overall, the case underscores the need for clinicians to recognize Sweet syndrome early, since prompt steroid treatment can produce dramatic clinical improvement.

Asset Subtitle

Myles J. Solan

Meta Tag

Author List Alexander Nagourney, Alfred Burger, Myles J. Solan

Category Clinical Vignettes

Concept Sweet Syndrome

Concept Neutrophilic Dermatosis

Concept Erythematous Papulonodular Rash

Concept Skin Biopsy

Concept Corticosteroids

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Presenting Author Myles J. Solan

Track Adult

Keywords

Sweet syndrome

neutrophilic dermatosis

pneumonia

corticosteroids

rash

fever

leukocytosis

infection-associated

drug-induced

skin biopsy

Sweet Syndrome

Neutrophilic Dermatosis

Erythematous Papulonodular Rash

Skin Biopsy

Corticosteroids