Mycobacterium tuberculosis breast infection mimicking pyogenic abscesses in Kuwait

Abstract

Objective: To present 2 cases of primary breast abscesses caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis mimicking pyogenic abscesses in healthy young females. Clinical Presentation and Intervention: Two young non-lactating Indonesian and Indian women, aged 27 and 29 years old, respectively, presented with breast abscesses caused by M.tuberculosis. The breasts presented as huge, swollen, hot, tender masses with a discharge at the subareolar site. Surgical drainage revealed deep abscess with copious amount of pus, samples of which were positive for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) and later confirmed as M.tuberculosis by positive cultures in Becton Dickinson BBL Migit and BACTEC 12B media. The initial therapies with clindamycin were changed to 4 anti-tuberculous drugs as soon as the smears showed the presence of AFB. The patients were discharged a week later, but both were lost to follow-up. Conclusion: Mammary tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of breast lesion, especially in patients from endemic areas. Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.