Suspected gouty tophus in a woman's breast.
A postmenopausal woman treated with diuretics for hypertension and who underwent surgery for a previous fibroadenoma of the left breast presented, in December 2003, with a sudden bloody discharge of the left nipple with local swelling, redness, and pain. Radiologic investigations revealed a well-delimited tumor under the areola. Needle aspiration disclosed many histiocytes but no bacteria. Despite improvement with antibiotics, the tumor was removed. Pathological examination shows features suggesting the tumor was a gouty tophus. Birefringent crystals were retrospectively found on the smears of the aspirated material. To our knowledge, only 3 similar cases have been reported in the literature.
Van Linthoudt
Daniel
D
Département de Rhumatologie, Hôpital, La Chaux-de-Fonds, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. daniel.vanlinthoudt@ne.ch
Joris
François
F
Christen
Brigitte
B
Pazera
Andrej
A
Nobel
Monica
M
Magnanelli
Luc
L
Malterre
Laurent
L
D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006073:Gout / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D017698:Postmenopause
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents