Highlights
- •Imaging findings and clinicopathologic features of tuberculosis mastitis are reviewed.
- •Tuberculosis (TB) mastitis is a challenging diagnosis, often presenting with imaging findings suspicious for malignancy.
- •Negative AFB stains and cultures do not fully rule-out TB, especially when a high level of clinical suspicion exists.
- •The diagnosis should be considered in patients with risk factors for TB with a diagnosis of granulomatous mastitis.
Abstract
Tuberculosis mastitis can be a challenging diagnosis, often presenting with clinical
and imaging findings that are suspicious for malignancy. We present a case of a 49-year-old
female with a breast mass initially diagnosed as idiopathic granulomatous mastitis.
Failure to respond to standard treatments, development of new breast masses, and discovery
of a concurrent ulcerating thigh rash with similar histologic findings as the breast
masses prompted further investigation, which ultimately lead to the diagnosis of tuberculosis
mastitis. There was rapid resolution of both breast and skin symptoms after initiation
of empiric drug therapy.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 22, 2018
Accepted:
February 15,
2018
Received in revised form:
January 29,
2018
Received:
October 9,
2017
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
