J Mycol Infect.  2025 Dec;30(4):140-143. 10.17966/JMI.2025.30.4.140.

Coexistence of Tuberculous Mastitis and Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma: A Case Report

• Krishnan R
• Munirathinam A
• Shanmugam P

• KMID: 2575963
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.17966/JMI.2025.30.4.140

Abstract

The co-occurrence of tuberculous mastitis and infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast is a rare clinical phenomenon that poses significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Breast tissue is relatively resistant to tubercular infection, rendering breast tuberculosis an uncommon extrapulmonary manifestation. The overlapping clinical and radiological features of both diseases complicate the diagnostic process. This report presents the case of a 38-year-old woman diagnosed with both conditions concurrently. The diagnosis was established based on histopathological examination and microbiological confirmation, including the GeneXpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) assay/resistance to rifampicin (RIF) assay, which detected MTB with an indeterminate rifampin resistance. Despite the indeterminate result, rifampin was included in the treatment regimen, in accordance with national guidelines and clinical judgment in the absence of confirmed resistance. This case is remarkable for its infrequency and highlights the importance of sensitive clinical suspicion, comprehensive evaluation, and coexistent pathologies in endemic regions. A comparison with existing literature highlights its novelty and clinical implications.

Keyword

Breast carcinoma; Breast tuberculosis; Caseous necrosis; Dual pathology; GeneXpert; Histopathology; Infiltrating ductal carcinoma