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Plasma cell mastitis

Case contributed by Jan Frank Gerstenmaier
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Lump in the left breast found on examination by the patient's GP.

Patient Data

Age: 87
Gender: Female

Mammo Imaging from the...

mammography

Mammo Imaging from the "triple assessment clinic"

Bilateral mammogams: The breast parenchyma is composed of scattered fibroglandular densities. There are scattered cigar-shaped calcifications bilaterally with their long axis pointing towards the nipples. There is a well circumscribed 26mm density in the left lower inner quadrant. A pacemaker is incidentally noted.

Breast US: Lt lower inner...

ultrasound

Breast US: Lt lower inner quadrant Focused ultrasound left lower inner quadrant: The patient indicates a lump in the left lower inner quadrant and reports that this is stable over a long time.  Here, focused ultrasound demonstrates a 23 mm circumscribed hypoechoic mass, related to the deep aspect of the dermis, with appearances compatible with a sebaceous cyst.

Case Discussion

This elderly patient was referred to the triple assessment clinic by her GP who found a lump on breast examination. The patient indicated that the lump had been present for many years and never troubled her. Ultrasound and mammographic appearances were most consistent with a sebaceous cyst.

The finding of cigar-shaped calcifications bilaterally was incidental, and in keeping with plasma cell mastitis.

BI-RADS® code 2. The patient was discharged from the TAC clinic.

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