Non-tuberculosis Mycobacterium Tenosynovitis with Rice Bodies in a Patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Infectious disease with various presentations in systemic lupus erythematosus often resembles lupus flare. A 37-year-old woman presented with a swollen left index finger that had not resolved, despite 7 years of immunosuppressive treatment. MRI showed rice-body formation in the flexor tendon sheath and tenosynovectomy demonstrated chronic synovitis with epithelioid granuloma. A mycobacterial culture confirmed invasive mycobacterial tenosynovitis due to Mycobacterium chelonae. The patient was treated with moxifloxacin and clarithromycin and completely recovered.