Primary Tuberculosis of the Breast - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia

Purpose: to make a differential diagnosis in regard to breast carcinoma and to evaluate diagnostic and clinical methods in the treatment of breast tuberculosis and the follow-up after adequate treatment. Patients and Methods: three patients with breast tuberculosis were observed from March 2001 to March 2002; the first two were hospitalized at our Mastology Department and the third patient was treated at a private clinic. The clinical signs and symptoms, laboratory findings, response to therapy and follow-up were evaluated. Results: the average age of the patients was 40.6 years. The most frequent signs and symptoms were pain and breast tumor. In two patients the presumptive diagnosis was based on the clinical findings, on the histological findings (granulomatous inflammatory process), and on the therapeutic response to tuberculostatic drugs. Only one patient had a microbiological diagnosis, as Koch’s bacillus was identified in a sample of her breast tissue. Treatment with a triple tuberculostatic regimen, including rifampin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide, led to the regression of the lesions. Conclusion: primary breast tuberculosis, a rare occurrence which may present clinically as a breast nodule and radiologically as carcinoma, should be taken into account when making the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with mammary mass.