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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Med Paediatr Oncol 2018; 39(04): 516-518
DOI: 10.4103/ijmpo.ijmpo_103_17
Practitioner Section

Tubercular Mastitis Masquerading as Carcinoma Breast in Elderly Female: A Diagnostic Dilemma

Aditi Das
Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, AIIMS, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India
,
Hemlata Panwar
Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, AIIMS, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India
,
Nighat Hussain
Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, AIIMS, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India
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Abstract

Tubercular mastitis (TM), a great masquerader, is extremely rare in elderly. Diagnosis becomes challenging when patient’s age and clinical features favor carcinoma, as in our case, where a 70-year-old female presented with right breast lumps associated with overlying ulcers and right supraclavicular lymphadenopathy. Fine-needle aspiration cytology of breast lump and lymph node followed by special staining and culture confirmed TM and lymphadenitis. Antitubercular therapy was initiated, and the patient got prompt relief. Here, we have discussed clinicocytological aspects of TM mimicking as carcinoma breast and diagnostic approach that should be undertaken. The case highlights the value of precise diagnosis, as specific treatment is indicated for tubercular and other granulomatous mastitis; placing an emphasis on meticulous investigation to rule out possibility of lethal malignancy in elderly; and necessity to always keep possibility of even rare entity like TM, irrespective of age, especially in India, where tuberculosis is endemic.

Keywords

Breast - carcinoma - elderly - fine-needle aspiration cytology - granulomatous - mastitis - tubercular


Publication History

Article published online:
17 June 2021

© 2018. Indian Society of Medical and Paediatric Oncology. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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