Case report: Breast cancer associated with contralateral tuberculosis of axillary lymph nodes

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer coexisting with tuberculous axillary lymph nodes is rare.Case report: We report a 69 years old Yemeni patient with a left breast invasive ductal carcinoma associated with contralateral tuberculous axillary lymph nodes containing microcalcifications mimicking malignancy. The patient had to be investigated for the possibility of bilateral breast cancer since she had no history of previous exposure to tuberculosis.Conclusion: Tuberculosis involving lymph nodes can create a diagnostic dilemma in the presence of a malignant process. The presence of calcifications in lymph nodes should raise the possibility of tuberculosis even in the absence of contact history with tuberculosis. © 2013 Baslaim et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.