Publication

Abstract : Mammary (breast) tuberculosis is a rare extra-pulmonary manifestation of tuberculosis which accounts for less than 0.1% of breast conditions in developed countries, but reaches 3–4% in regions where the disease presents with high incidence (India, Africa). It appears mostly in women of reproductive age group with high incidence in multiparous and lactating women. The clinical presentation is usually of a solitary, ill defined, unilateral hard lump situated in the upper outer quadrant of the breast. The significance of breast tuberculosis is due to rare occurrence and close differentials of breast cancer and pyogenic breast abscess. Breast tuberculosis has no defined clinical features. So clinical suspicion of breast tuberculosis is difficult. Radiological imaging is not diagnostic. Diagnosis is based on identification of typical histological features or the tuberculer bacilli under microscopy or on culture. Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) recommends category I antitubercular therapy for 6 months for breast tuberculosis. We report a case of breast tuberculosis in a 22 year old female presenting with chief complaints of progressive slow growing lump in left breast. Histopathological examination and Ziehl– Neelsen staining of resected lump confirmed the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Conclusion – In developing countries like India, where tuberculosis is endemic, it should be kept in mind as a differential diagnosis of breast lump