Ectopic breast carcinoma presenting as sebaceous cyst left axilla.

A 43-year-old woman with a positive family history of breast cancer presented with a painless lump in her left axilla for 2 years. Clinical diagnosis was a left axillary sebaceous cyst as the lump was inseparable from the skin. The lesion was excised under local anaesthesia and reported as breast tissue widely infiltrated by an invasive ductal carcinoma (grade 2). The malignancy was not involving the epidermis but <1 mm away from deeper margins. Re-excision of the deeper tissue with an axillary sentinel lymph nodes biopsy was performed and deep margins were reported to be tumour-free with no nodal involvement.

Splenic epithelial cyst.

Cysts of spleen are rare entities. Congenital splenic cysts are even more uncommon comprising of only 10% of benign non-parasitic cysts. We report a case of 22 years old female who presented with history of 2 years abdominal pain and gradual distension. Ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) both were suggestive of splenic cyst. Laboratory tests show thrombocytopenia with platelets count of 97000 per cubic millimeter and anemia with hemoglobin 8.7 gram per deciliter. Serological tests were negative for parasitic infection. Splenectomy was done and the weight of the spleen was found to be 1.5 kilogram. Histopathological findings are consistent with splenic epithelial cyst. The aetiology, diagnostic modalities and treatment options are discussed in the case report.

Tuberculous mastitis.

OBJECTIVE: To find out the different clinical presentations of breast tuberculosis and its treatment outcome. DESIGN: An observational study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Surgical ward 3 of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi from June 2001 to November 2003. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fifty consecutive female patients above 13 years presenting with breast lump, multiple sinuses, axillary lymphadenopathy, and cold abscess were included in the study. Medical records of the patients presented were reviewed and analyzed. Data was collected regarding the patient's name, age and marital and lactational status. Clinical Examinations and investigations were carried out by triple assessment i.e. clinical, radiological and histological / cytological evaluation. RESULTS: The commonest presentation was a solitary breast lump in 30 (60%) patients, breast lump with axillary lymphadenopathy in 13 (26%). Four (8%) patients presented with generalized breast swelling (edema) with ipsilateral axillary lymphadenopathy. Two (4%) presented with breast abscess and axillary lymphadenopathy and one (2%) with axillary sinus and breast lump. Upper outer quadrant was most frequently involved in 29 (58%) of patients. Thirty-two (64%) cases were secondary to tuberculosis in other sites, mostly (40%) from tuberculous axillary lymphadenitis. Forty-eight (96%) patients responded well to one year antituberculous treatment with complete disappearance of the lumps except 2 patients who had shrinkage of lump size only, underwent excision of lump. CONCLUSION: Solitary lump and enlarged lymph nodes are the commonest presentation of mammary tuberculosis. Early diagnosis and treatment is necessary to prevent disfigurement of breast. Antituberculous therapy is the treatment of choice. Surgery should be reserved for unresponsive lumps.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is a rare, locally aggressive, rarely metastatic skin tumor which tends to recur. A 45-year-old female presented with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans on her breast as a recurrent nodule after excision. Lump was re-excised with wide margins and irradiated. Follow-up was done monthly for two years, with no recurrence.