Benign Rheumatoid Nodules

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Abstract
Nine patients with subcutaneous rheumatoid nodules without evidence of rheumatoid arthritis are recorded. In 4, the nodules appeared during adolescence or adult life, a very rare phenomenon. Synovitis occurred in 1 patient, after 15 yr, but it did not persist and other features of rheumatoid arthritis were not present. The siting of the nodules in the subcutaneous tissue, the absence of features suggestive of rheumatic fever, necrobiosis lipiodica or fungal infection, and lack of any history of trauma, together with the histological appearance, supported a diagnosis of rheumatoid nodules. In all cases serological tests for rheumatoid factor were negative but in the only case investigated with immunofluorescent staining, Ig[immunoglobulin]G and IgM were demonstrated in the biopsy material. These benign nodules do not necessarily indicate that the patient has rheumatoid arthritis, or will develop rheumatoid arthritis. The possible relationship of such nodules to granuloma annulare is discussed.

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