title: Trichomoniasis of the breast diseased by fibrocystic mastopathy: pathogenic rather than saprophytic relationship (Trichomonas in fibrocystic mastopathy process).
abstract: Because of the striking similarity between histopathological pictures of chronic trichomonal cervicitis uteri, the tissue reaction after subcutaneous inoculation of Trichomonas culture in experimental animals and female breast diseased by fibrocystic mastopathy, the detection of Trichomonads was undertaken in surgically removed diseased breast parts. In 12 FCM patients, subjected to segmental breast resection, the imprint smears were prepared from dissected specimens and after supravital staining immediately examined by light microscopy. The mucous content from dilated ducts was inoculated in the culture media. The dissected tissues have been further histologically analysed by standard method. In nine out of 12 examined FCM cases the direct microscopy revealed aflagellary, pseudocystic, leucocytoid form of Trichomonads. The cultures were positive in 4 cases: in 3 patients Trichomonas tenax was identified and in the last one T vaginalis. Histopathological findings in all 12 examined cases have shown the changes characteristic for FCM. On the basis of the accumulated knowledge about pathogenic capacity of Trichomonads, it can be with great certainty claimed that these protozoa, even in their pseudocystic form are able to cause the all appearances characteristic for FCM. This first report about Trichomonas infection in the middle of FCM process gives the unexpected hope in solving of its etiology and new insight into antitrichomonal host reaction which is frequently associated with epithelial dysplasia and unrarely with precancerous lesions as earlier observed in cervix uteri.
authors.affiliation: Women's Health Center Sarajevo, Gynaecological Service Stari Grad.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krvavac
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005348:Fibrocystic Breast Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D014245:Trichomonas Infections / Q000150:complications*