title: Breast carcinoma occurring from chronic granulomatous mastitis.
abstract: Chronic granulomatous mastitis is known as a benign and relatively rare disorder that is often difficult to differentiate from breast carcinoma. We highlight the case of a 34-year-old woman who had recurrent episodes of right breast swelling and abscess for 8 years. These were proven to be chronic granulomatous mastitis by tissue biopsies on 3 different occasions. Her condition improved on similar courses of antibiotics and high-dose prednisolone. However, she subsequently developed progressive loss of vision due to an orbital tumour. She then underwent a craniotomy and left orbital decompression with excision of the tumour, which proved to be a metastatic carcinoma. A trucut biopsy of the right breast was then done and showed features consistent with an infiltrating ductal carcinoma. This case illustrates the possibility that chronic granulomatous mastitis could be a precursor for malignancy and the difficulty in differentiating one from the other. The possible mechanisms of development and the implications for future management are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, Bandar Tun Razak, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Luqman
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mazlan
authors.forename: Shahrun Niza   Abdullah
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Suhaimi
authors.forename: Saladina Jaszle
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Jasmin
authors.forename: Nani Harlina  Md
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Latar
authors.forename: Sellymiah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adzman
authors.forename: Rohaizak
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muhammad