Lymphocytic Mastitis Mimicking Breast Cancer: Two Case Review
Journal name: The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences
Original article title: Lymphocytic Mastitis Mimicking Breast Carcinoma, Radiology and Pathology Correlation: Review of Two Cases
The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences (MJMS) is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal published online at least six times a year. It covers all aspects of medical sciences and prioritizes high-quality research.
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Sharifah Majedah Idrus Alhabshi, Kartini Rahmat, Caroline Judy Westerhout, Nani Harlina Md Latar, Patricia Ann Chandran, Suraya Aziz
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The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences:
(A peer-reviewed, open-access journal)
Full text available for: Lymphocytic Mastitis Mimicking Breast Carcinoma, Radiology and Pathology Correlation: Review of Two Cases
Year: 2013
Copyright (license): CC BY 4.0
Summary of article contents:
Introduction
Lymphocytic mastitis, also known as diabetic mastopathy, is a rare condition observed in patients with early-onset or long-standing diabetes mellitus. It typically presents as a palpable breast mass, which can be either tender or non-tender. Due to its clinical presentation, mammographic and ultrasound findings often raise concerns for breast cancer, necessitating biopsy and histological confirmation for accurate diagnosis. This article examines two cases of lymphocytic mastitis, highlighting the findings from mammograms, ultrasounds, and histopathology, leading to the diagnoses confirmed by excision biopsy.
Understanding Lymphocytic Mastitis
The primary characteristic of lymphocytic mastitis is its potential to mimic breast cancer on clinical examination and imaging studies, such as mammograms and ultrasounds. In the reviewed cases, one patient (37 years old) presented with a painful mass and an imaging report indicating high suspicion for malignancy, while the second patient (65 years old) who was asymptomatic had her condition identified during routine screening. In both cases, imaging studies showed irregular hypoechoic lesions with significant posterior acoustic shadowing. Histopathological examination revealed dense keloid-like fibrosis and lymphocytic infiltration, confirming the diagnosis of sclerosing lymphocytic mastitis. The presence of conflicting clinical, imaging, and pathological findings underscored the necessity of surgical intervention for definitive diagnosis.
Conclusion
Lymphocytic mastitis is an uncommon condition that can closely resemble breast carcinoma in clinical and radiological evaluations. Awareness of its features is critical for healthcare providers, as it can occur in patients with a history of diabetes, but also in individuals without diabetes. While mammography is an essential diagnostic tool, ultrasound plays a key role in evaluating lesions and guiding biopsies. Given the complexity of diagnostic imaging and the potential for false positives, excisional biopsies may be required to reach a conclusive diagnosis. Notably, although the recurrence rate for lymphocytic mastitis is relatively high, there is no evidence suggesting that it leads to breast cancer.
FAQ section (important questions/answers):
What is lymphocytic mastitis and its relation to diabetes?
Lymphocytic mastitis, also known as diabetic mastopathy, is an uncommon breast condition found in patients with early-onset or long-standing diabetes. It typically presents as a palpable mass and may mimic breast cancer on imaging studies.
What diagnostic procedures are used for lymphocytic mastitis?
Diagnoses are often confirmed through excision biopsy, especially when imaging studies show suspicious findings. Core biopsy can also be performed but may yield conflicting results due to the degree of fibrosis present in these lesions.
What imaging findings are associated with lymphocytic mastitis?
Mammograms usually show high-density, irregular masses that may be classified as BIRADS 5, indicating suspicion for malignancy. Ultrasound typically demonstrates irregular, hypoechoic lesions with marked posterior acoustic shadowing.
What is the long-term prognosis for lymphocytic mastitis patients?
The recurrence rate of lymphocytic mastitis is relatively high at 32%. However, there is no evidence suggesting that diabetic fibrous mastopathy develops into breast cancer, and most patients do not experience recurrence after appropriate surgical intervention.
Other Health Sciences Concepts:
Discover the significance of concepts within the article: ‘Lymphocytic Mastitis Mimicking Breast Cancer: Two Case Review’. Further sources in the context of Health Sciences might help you critically compare this page with similair documents:
Medical treatment, Differential diagnosis, Breast cancer, Palpation, Palpable mass, Case report, Recurrence Rate, Radiological findings, Ultrasound findings, Axillary Lymphadenopathy, Breast carcinoma, Wide local excision, Long standing diabetes, Mammogram, Histopathology examination, Excisional biopsy, Fine needle aspiration (FNA), FNAC, Breast lump, Insulin dependent diabetes, Excision biopsy, Favorable outcome, Tissue diagnosis, Fibrotic tissue, Posterior acoustic shadowing, Core biopsy, Funding acknowledgment, Ultrasound evaluation, Granulomatous Mastitis, Conflicting results, Hypoechoic lesion, Acoustic shadowing, Radiologic evaluation, Breast disorders, Five-year follow up, Dense breast tissue, Screening mammogram.