Findings: MLO view of the right breast as well as a spot compression view of the right axilla demonstrate multiple small radio-opaque densities within right axillary lymph nodes.

Diagnosis: Gold deposits secondary to gold therapy for the patient's rheumatoid arthritis.

Discussion: Calcifications within axillary lymph nodes are rare. Although large calcifications are considered to be of no consequence, fine irregular calcifications are suspicious for axillary nodal metastases, especially if the patient's breast cancer contains similar calcifications. Another rare cause of radio-opaque particles within axillary lymph nodes is gold deposits in women treated with gold therapy for their rheumatoid arthritis.

References:
Kopans DB. Analyzing the Mammogram. In: Breast Imaging.
Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia; 1998:347-348.

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