Mycobacterium chelonae: a rare cause of subcutaneous nodules in a patient on long term corticosteroids

Subcutaneous nodules are a common clinical finding. Common causes include rheumatoid nodules, gouty tophi, neurofibromatosis type 1, Madelung's disease (benign symmetric lipomatosis), Dercum's disease (adiposis dolorosa) and tuberous xanthomas. Other causes include: hibernoma, lipoblastoma, angiolipoma, liposarcoma, glomus tumour, leiomyoma, eccrine spiradenoma, neuroma, granular cell tumour and cysts (epidermal, pilar, sebaceous, dermoid). We present a rare cause of subcutaneous nodules in a patient on long term corticosteroids.