Abstract
Introduction: Breast involvement of tuberculosis is an uncommon, but not a rare disorder especially among developing countries and accurate diagnosis of disease is not always possible.
Aim: To analyze the demographic, clinical, radiological, histopathological data of patients with granulomatous mastitis those who were highly suspected as tuberculosis and to observe the preemptive tuberculosis treatment outcomes.
Method: Between2009-2011 surveillance programme data is retrospectively investigated.
Results: Among 48 patients reported as granulomatous disease postoperatively, only 17 were highly suspected as tuberculosis mastitis according to clinical, radiological and postoperative pathological evaluation. The median age was 34 years (range,21-52, female). The major complaints were breast mass, pain and nipple discharge. Breast ultrasonography revealed common findings indicating the lesions as abscess, mastitis, ductal inflammatory disease and even breast carcinoma. 7 of the 22 patients were suspected as breast carcinoma. Wide local excision was the mainstay of both accurate diagnosis and surgical treatment. None of the patients had active pulmonary or sequelae radiological tuberculosis findings. All the patients were started HRZE treatment with duration of 9 months. 6 of 17 patients have complete response to standard treatment without recurrence. The remaining patients are still under therapy without any complication.
Conclusion: We think that additional to clinical features, ultra sonographic findings with pathologically proven granulomatous mastitiscan be highly suspicion point and preemptive treatment can be started in this group of patients especially in developing countries.
- © 2012 ERS
