Tuberculous mastitis: A masquerading face of granulomatous mastitis.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) mastitis is a rare form of granulomatous mastitis. We aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients diagnosed with TB mastitis. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study was carried out on patients who were reported to national tuberculosis control authorities as having TB mastitis between 2003 and 2021. Demographic, histopathological, and radiological data including mammography, ultrasonography (US), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were reviewed. All were followed up to 24 months and prognosis was also evaluated. Result: This study identified 29 TB mastitis patients who had been diagnosed using excisional biopsies. The mean age was 33.5 ± 10.1, all were premenopausal women. The most common symptom was breast mass (n= 24, %82.8), nearly half of the patients also had ipsilateral axillary lymphadenopathy (n= 14, 48.3). One-fourth of the patients had bilateral involvement (n= 7, 24.1%), and half of the patients (n= 16, 55.2%) presented with multiple masses. One patient had co-existing pulmonary TB. Predisposing factors for TB were not identified in any of the patients. Nearly half of the patients received prior mastitis treatment. The most common radiological finding was mass in both mammography and US. All patients received anti-tuberculosis treatment of a standard regimen for six to 21 months, three patients had a relapse but were finally cured. Conclusions: TB mastitis should be suspected in young and premenopausal women presenting with a breast mass and axillary lymphadenopathy in an endemic region. Radiological findings could not identify the diagnosis. A multidisciplinary approach including bacteriology and histopathology should be performed. Anti-tuberculosis treatment can be implemented successfully.

Types of Fundus Involvement in Intraocular Tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the patients who were treated for intraocular tuberculosis retrospectively and present our findings and share our experience. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was a descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study. Patients who were followed up with the diagnosis of intraocular tuberculosis in the Ophthalmology and Pulmonary Medicine Departments of Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine in the last 15 years and received anti-tuberculosis therapy were included. RESULTS: A total of 16 eyes of 10 patients with a diagnosis of intraocular tuberculosis uveitis who were treated with anti-tuberculosis therapy were included in this study. The mean age was 48.1 [14.6] years (mean [standard deviation]). Four were [40%] male and 6 [60%] were female. Patients with tuberculosis uveitis had bilateral involvement (7 of 10 patients [70%]). Intraocular tuberculosis was presented in 7 eyes of 4 patients with serpiginous like choroiditis, 2 eyes of 2 patients with choroidal tuberculomas, 4 eyes of 2 patients with choroidal tubercles (miliary tuberculosis), and 3 eyes of 2 patients with intermediate uveitis. The mean duration from admission to treat- ment was 18.1 ± 17.4 days (range: 6-56 days). All patients in this study received a 4-drug regimen anti-tuberculosis therapy, Paradoxical reaction occurred in 30% of the patients. Eight patients had systemic steroid therapy and 4 had also topical steroid therapy. The mean length of follow-up was 14.7 months (standard deviation = 15.1, range: 6-48 months). Reactivation of intraocular tuberculosis was not observed in any patients. CONCLUSION: High level of suspicion is a must for diagnosing intraocular tuberculosis. A complete ophthalmic examination can be performed in patients with suspected or proven tuberculosis. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of intraocular tuberculosis can prevent serious complications and loss of vision.