BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Diabetic muscle infarction, which is a rare microangiopathic complication of uncontrolled diabetes, should be considered as a differential diagnosis for diabetic patients with lower extremity swelling and local pain, and without any other systemic symptoms. In this study, we presented the case of a diabetic patient with thigh muscle infarction.

CASE REPORT: The case was a 63-year-old diabetic male with pain and dysfunction in the right lower limb, who was referred to cardiology clinic for vascular assessment. During hospital stay, after rheumatology consultation, a mass was detected in the anterior thigh, which was confirmed with magnetic resonance imaging. Samples were taken from the mass, and the pathology reports showed diabetic muscle infarction. The patient was treated with analgesics and insulin. After partial improvement, the patient was discharged, and two months after hospital discharge the mass size and pain had reduced considerably.

CONCLUSION: Diabetic muscle infarction is a rare complication of uncontrolled and prolonged diabetes, which has a simple treatment. In this study, we call attention to this condition to prevent unnecessary actions and help with its early diagnosis.