Unusual benign lesions of the breast mimicking carcinoma: A series of six cases

Abstract

Introduction: There has been a growing increase in the incidence of breast cancer, which is still the most significant cancer-related cause of female mortality. All breast lesions are not malignant, and all the benign lesions do not progress to cancer; however, the accuracy of diagnosis can be increased by a combination of preoperative tests (like physical examination, mammography, fine-needle aspiration cytology, and core-needle biopsy [CNB]). Aim: To study the breast mass which mimicks malignant lesion clinically and their further evaluation with the help of core needle biopsy and fine needle aspiration cytology. Materials and Methods: Prospective evaluation of the breast masses which mimicks malingnant lesion clinically at IPGME &R and SSKM Hospital kolkata from January 2019 to June 2020 at department of pathology. We studied the cases of breast masses. This comprised patient age and sex, the clinical characteristics and location of the mass, the duration of the lesion, its size, the treatment provided, and the histopathological findings obtained from fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and CNB. Results: We present six clinical cases in which a diagnosis dilemma existed, in terms of ultrasound findings that were not clear and suspicious. The results of FNAC and CNB are used to distinguish between benign breast lesions mimicking carcinoma of breast. Our findings are compared with previously published cases. Furthermore, literature review regarding the case presentation and diagnosis has been discussed, as well as treatment options. Conclusion: Accurate preoperative diagnosis of carcinoma is necessary in screen-detected lesions so that patients may be counseled appropriately and a majority could have a single therapeutic operation. Benign breast lesion mimicking breast carcinoma should be differentiated. Combining FNAC and CNB for screening-detected breast cancers, the complete sensitivity increases from 93% for CNB only to 98% when both tests are combined.

Keywords

• breast
• fine-needle aspiration cytology
• granulomatous mastitis
• plasma cell mastitis