Did Rembrandt's Bathsheba really have breast cancer?
BACKGROUND
Rembrandt's Bathsheba (Louvre, Paris) reveals an abnormality of the left breast and axilla. Previously breast cancer has been suggested as the probable diagnosis.


METHODS
The present paper reviews the clinical history as well as the clinical findings.


RESULTS
Inconsistencies, pitfalls in the diagnosis and the consequences of the possibility of a different model for the body of the figure are discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
An alternative diagnosis of an infective process such as tuberculous mastitis or, less likely, chronic lactational breast abscess is suggested.
Bourne
R G
RG
Queensland Radium Institute Mater Centre, South Brisbane, Australia.
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000266:history*; D005197:Famous Persons; D005260:Female; D049670:History, 17th Century; D006801:Humans; D008413:Mastitis / Q000266:history*; D008512:Medicine in the Arts; D010151:Paintings / Q000266:history*; D014388:Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / Q000266:history*