Cholesterol granuloma of the breast suspected as breast carcinoma

Abstract

Cholesterol granuloma of the breast is a rare benign condition which is difficult to differentiate from breast cancer. We herein report the case of a 56-year-old Japanese asymptomatic female who, on a computed tomography examination for sigmoid colon cancer, was found to have a palpable nodule in the upper external quadrant of the left breast. Breast carcinoma could not be ruled out on the basis of clinical and radiological findings, but excisional biopsy revealed cholesterol granuloma. A histological examination implied that this case of cholesterol granuloma might have been related with mammary duct ectasia. Although cholesterol granuloma is a rare disorder in the breast, this case indicated that a better awareness of this benign breast disease is important for avoiding misdiagnosis and unnecessary surgery.