Scrofulous swelling of the bosom masquerading as cancer

Breast Tuberculosis in Iran: A Comprehensive Review

ABSTRACT

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health concern and kills millions of people every year. While TB can affect any organ in the body, breast TB is relatively uncommon. This study presents a comprehensive review of literature spanning 23 years, with a focus on cases of breast TB in Iran. Among the 96 cases found, the majority (89.6%) fell within the age range of 20-60, with a striking prevalence among women (98.9%). Common symptoms included pain and palpable mass, each presenting in approximately 60.4% of cases. Notably, only a quarter of patients had a confirmed history of exposure to a known TB case. Left breast involvement was more prevalent (58.3%), with ipsilateral lymph node enlargement observed in 40.6% of cases. Given the clinical presentation of breast TB, which often leads to misdiagnosis, a significant proportion of cases (68.7%) were diagnosed through excisional biopsy. Following a standard 6-month regimen of anti-TB drugs, relapse occurred in only 4.2% of cases. This study highlights the need for heightened awareness and vigilance in diagnosing breast TB, especially in regions with a high burden. Although breast TB poses diagnostic challenges, with prompt identification and treatment, the prognosis is generally favorable, with a low incidence of relapse.

Breast Tuberculosis in Women: A Systematic Review

Breast tuberculosis (TB) is rarely reported and poorly described. This review aims to update the existing literature on risk factors, clinical presentations, constitutional symptoms, diagnostic procedures, and medical and surgical treatments for breast TB. In all, 1,478 cases of breast TB were collected. Previous history of TB was reported in 19% of cases. The most common clinical appearance of the lesion was breast lump (75%). The most common associated finding was axillary lymphadenitis (33%) followed by sinus or fistula (24%). The most common symptoms were pain and fever, reported in 42% and 28% of cases, respectively. The most used diagnostic method was fine-needle aspiration cytology (32%), followed by biopsy (27%), acid-fast bacteria Ziehl-Neelsen stain (26%), culture (13%), and polymerase chain reaction (2%). These tested positive in 64%, 93%, 27%, 26%, and 58% of cases, respectively. The majority (69%) of patients received a 6-month anti-TB treatment (isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol). Surgery consisted of excision in 39% of cases, drainage in 23%, and mastectomy in 5%. The great majority of patients had a positive outcome. It often mimics breast cancer, which makes it difficult to diagnose. Most patients, when diagnosed in time, respond to antitubercular therapy alone.