Cryptococcal infection of the breast

Abstract

Deep fungal infections of the breast have been reported infrequently. These infections are usually discovered during an evaluation of a breast mass for neoplasia. We report a case of cryptococcal infection of the breast that presented as a mass lesion and was successfully treated with a combination of surgical excision and fluconazole and summarize eight additional cases from the literature. Because of the risk of disseminated and recurrent cryptococcal infection after surgical treatment alone, evaluation for disseminated disease and systemic antifungal therapy for cryptococcal mastitis are suggested.