Breast Lump: A Rare Presentation of Tuberculosis in an Elderly Man
Introduction: Chest wall masses are caused by various entities and have diverse aetiologies. A careful history and physical examination are crucial to establish the correct diagnosis. Case report: A 77-year-old man presented with depressive mood, anorexia (weight loss of 20 kg) and a 1-month histo...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SMC MEDIA SRL
2019-05-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Case Reports in Internal Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.ejcrim.com/index.php/EJCRIM/article/view/1113 |
| _version_ | 1818143370421207040 |
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| author | Sofia Gomes Brazao Regina Costa Miguel Nico Albano Nelson Jesus Armando Carvalho |
| author_facet | Sofia Gomes Brazao Regina Costa Miguel Nico Albano Nelson Jesus Armando Carvalho |
| author_sort | Sofia Gomes Brazao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Chest wall masses are caused by various entities and have diverse aetiologies. A careful history and physical examination are crucial to establish the correct diagnosis.
Case report: A 77-year-old man presented with depressive mood, anorexia (weight loss of 20 kg) and a 1-month history of a non-painful breast lump with well-defined contours, which was about 6 cm in diameter. There was no history of trauma. Computed tomography of the thorax revealed a collection of liquid in the left anterior thoracic wall, associated with discontinuity of the 4th left costal cartilage, and upper left lobe cavitation, suggesting pulmonary tuberculosis. The patient was started on quadruple therapy with anti-tuberculosis drugs and discharged after a negative smear.
Conclusion: In this case, the indolent onset of unspecific symptoms made it difficult to reach a diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, which was confirmed by positive culture and imaging. A breast lump in an elderly patient with unspecific clinical manifestations is an unusual presentation of pulmonary tuberculosis. It is important to be aware of rib invasion and exclude tuberculosis in a patient with a chest wall mass. As tuberculosis is treatable, early diagnosis is vital as diagnostic delay can lead to contagion. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T11:30:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6f8021c111794274a1d21fbec41c94fc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2284-2594 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T11:30:35Z |
| publishDate | 2019-05-01 |
| publisher | SMC MEDIA SRL |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Case Reports in Internal Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-6f8021c111794274a1d21fbec41c94fc2022-12-22T01:08:53ZengSMC MEDIA SRLEuropean Journal of Case Reports in Internal Medicine2284-25942019-05-0110.12890/2019_0011131113Breast Lump: A Rare Presentation of Tuberculosis in an Elderly ManSofia Gomes Brazao0Regina Costa1Miguel Nico Albano2Nelson Jesus3Armando Carvalho4Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra e Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, PortugalInternal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra e Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, PortugalInternal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra e Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, PortugalInternal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra e Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, PortugalInternal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra e Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, PortugalIntroduction: Chest wall masses are caused by various entities and have diverse aetiologies. A careful history and physical examination are crucial to establish the correct diagnosis. Case report: A 77-year-old man presented with depressive mood, anorexia (weight loss of 20 kg) and a 1-month history of a non-painful breast lump with well-defined contours, which was about 6 cm in diameter. There was no history of trauma. Computed tomography of the thorax revealed a collection of liquid in the left anterior thoracic wall, associated with discontinuity of the 4th left costal cartilage, and upper left lobe cavitation, suggesting pulmonary tuberculosis. The patient was started on quadruple therapy with anti-tuberculosis drugs and discharged after a negative smear. Conclusion: In this case, the indolent onset of unspecific symptoms made it difficult to reach a diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, which was confirmed by positive culture and imaging. A breast lump in an elderly patient with unspecific clinical manifestations is an unusual presentation of pulmonary tuberculosis. It is important to be aware of rib invasion and exclude tuberculosis in a patient with a chest wall mass. As tuberculosis is treatable, early diagnosis is vital as diagnostic delay can lead to contagion.https://www.ejcrim.com/index.php/EJCRIM/article/view/1113Tuberculosisbreast lumpinfectious diseasegeriatric medicine |
| spellingShingle | Sofia Gomes Brazao Regina Costa Miguel Nico Albano Nelson Jesus Armando Carvalho Breast Lump: A Rare Presentation of Tuberculosis in an Elderly Man European Journal of Case Reports in Internal Medicine Tuberculosis breast lump infectious disease geriatric medicine |
| title | Breast Lump: A Rare Presentation of Tuberculosis in an Elderly Man |
| title_full | Breast Lump: A Rare Presentation of Tuberculosis in an Elderly Man |
| title_fullStr | Breast Lump: A Rare Presentation of Tuberculosis in an Elderly Man |
| title_full_unstemmed | Breast Lump: A Rare Presentation of Tuberculosis in an Elderly Man |
| title_short | Breast Lump: A Rare Presentation of Tuberculosis in an Elderly Man |
| title_sort | breast lump a rare presentation of tuberculosis in an elderly man |
| topic | Tuberculosis breast lump infectious disease geriatric medicine |
| url | https://www.ejcrim.com/index.php/EJCRIM/article/view/1113 |
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