Primary actinomycosis of the breast masquerading as malignancy: Diagnosis by fine needle aspiration cytology

摘要

Dear Editors, A case of actinomycosis of the breast mimicking breast cancer is presented. Although it is not uncommon for actinomycosis to simulate cancer in other locations, the mammary involvement is unusual. The case was diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and subsequently confirmed by histopathological examination. Actinomycosis is a rare cause of granulomatous suppurative mastitis, sometimes mimicking malignancy. A 32-year-old woman presented to our institute with a history of a painful breast lump of 20 days duration. She was married, with a 2-year-old living male child. There was no history of fever, nipple discharge, breast trauma, orodental lesions, or respiratory problems. She was not diabetic and did not receive any immunosuppressive therapy. Local examination revealed a tender, firm to hard, partially fixed mass, measuring 7x8 cm, in the upper outer quadrant of the right breast. The overlying skin was hyperemic and edematous with no discharging sinuses. The contralateral breast and axillary lymph nodes were unremarkable.