Factitious disease of the breast of a male due to injection of liquid plastic.
BACKGROUND
Factitious disease involving the breast is unusual. The rarely reported cases of this entity have been encountered in middle-aged women. In general, factitious disease can be distinguished on clinical and/or psychological grounds from self-induced disorders seen in malingerers and among those demonstrating Munchausen's syndrome.


METHODS
We report herein a male patient displaying factitious disease of the breast due to injection of a high viscosity liquid plastic material.


RESULTS
Establishment of the proper diagnosis was greatly delayed due to a lack of suspicion of this entity. Only direct confrontation of the patient with the biopsy results (lipogranulomatosis) led to a reluctant and then only partial admission of the self-induced nature of this patient's illness.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinician should remain vigilant for factitious disease when confronted with chronic or recurrent lesions of a bizarre or atypical morphology. Any body site can be involved, including the breast. Management is difficult and is best accomplished in conjunction with an appropriate mental health professional. Continued dramatic surgical interventions are contraindicated.
Rosen
T
T
Department of Dermatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. TedRosenMD@aol.com
Chen
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005162:Factitious Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D010969:Plastics; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000150:complications*
D010969:Plastics