Lupus mastitis - peculiar radiological and pathological features

• Main Authors: Abdul Majid Wani, Waleed Mohd Mohd Hussain, Mohamed I Fatani, Bothaina Abdul Shakour
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 2009-04-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Radiology and Imaging
• Subjects: biopsy; lupus mastitis; lupus profundus; mammography; fine needle aspiration cytology; systemic lupus erythematosus
• Online Access: http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.4103/0971-3026.50834

Lupus mastitis is a form of lupus profundus that is seen in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. It usually presents as a swelling (or swellings) in the breasts, with or without pain. The condition is recurrent and progresses along with the underlying disease, with fat necrosis, calcification, fibrosis, scarring, and breast atrophy. Lupus mastitis is often confused with malignancy and lymphoma and, in our part of the world, with tuberculosis. Confusion is especially likely when it occurs in an unusual clinical setting. In this article, we present a case that presented with unique radiological, pathological, and clinical features. Awareness of the various manifestations of lupus mastitis is essential if unnecessary interventions such as biopsies and surgeries, and their consequences, are to be avoided.