Abstract
A case of granulomatous mastitis associated with a gastric cancer is reported. A 75-year-old female was seen at the hospital because of anorexia and epigastric fullness. Physical examination revealed a thumb tip-sized firm lump unexpectedly in the upper outer quadrant of the left breast with enlarged axillary lymph nodes, highly suggestive of a breast cancer. On the other hand, the upper gastrointestinal examination revealed a Borrmann type III gastric cancer. The patient was admitted for the purpose of the surgical treatment. Gastrectomy for the cancer was performed, followed by simple mastectomy with axillary dissection. Histopathologic examination demonstrated no breast carcinoma but a granulomatous mastitis, namely, granulomatous inflammation involving the mammary lobules and lymph nodes. Etiologically, the granulomatous mastitis may be classified into infectious and noninfectious types. Despite failure to demonstrate tubercle bacilli, fungi or other causative microorganisms, the present case is judged to belong to the infectious type because of its association with marked regional lymphadenopathy. Though vanishingly rare, the granulomatous mastitis should be considered as one of the masqueraders of breast cancer.
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