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Case Reports
. 2015 Nov 13:2015:bcr2015212254.
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2015-212254.

Breast filariasis or inflammatory breast carcinoma? Reaching a diagnosis

Dwijesh Kumar Panda  1 , Devi Prasad Mohapatra  2 , Madhusmita Mohanty Mohapatra  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Breast filariasis or inflammatory breast carcinoma? Reaching a diagnosis

Dwijesh Kumar Panda et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

Lymphatic filariasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by the parasite Wuchereria bancrofti. Involvement of the breast is relatively uncommon and may affect only 10% of individuals with lymphatic filariasis. We present a case of an elderly woman with breast pathology. The condition clinically appeared as a malignancy. Routine diagnostic tests including tissue histopathological studies failed to clinch a diagnosis. However, a serological test helped in identifying the pathology, which turned out to be a manifestation of breast filariasis, and aided in instituting appropriate therapy for this condition.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A and B) Left breast showing redness and a peau d’orange appearance.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) Mammogram of the left breast revealing thick and coarse trabecular markings as well as diffuse skin thickening with normal right breast. (B) High-power microscopic study of the left breast tissue reveals slit-like spaces lined by spindle cells and ropy collagen in the intervening spaces, with several scattered stellate-shaped cells and patchy mild lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(A and B) Left breast after therapy showing reduction of redness and disappearance of the peau d’orange appearance.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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