TWO CASES OF LYMPHOCYTIC MASTOPATHY REQUIRING DIFFERENTIATION FROM BREAST CANCER

Abstract

Lymphocytic mastopathy is accompanied by interstitial fibrosis, atrophy of the mammary lobules, and lymphocyte infiltration. Sporadic reports of this mastopathy subtype appearing in the mammary glands of patients with diabetes mellitus and autoimmune disease have appeared, however, that in patients without any underlying disease has been rarely reported. We report 2 cases diagnosed as lymphocytic mastopathy that occurred in patients without evidence of underlying disease. Patient 1, a 62-year-old woman, had a breast tumor in the right C area, which was visualized as an almost homogeneous hypoechoic tumor on ultrasonography and a locally asymmetric shadow on mammography. Patient 2, a 68-year-old woman, had a breast tumor in the right D area, which was visualized as a heterogeneous hypoechoic tumor on ultrasonograhy. No particular findings were noted on mammography. Malignancy could not be denied in either case and biopsies were performed, the results of which led to the diagnosis.
As it can be difficult to clinically differentiate mastopathy from breast cancer, a biopsy is frequently used. We consider it necessary to take lymphocytic mastopathy into account when making a differential diagnosis of a mammarty tumor.