Primary breast tuberculosis imaging findings of a rare disease

Abstract

Breast tuberculosis is a rare form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis which tends to afect females of reproductive age, and is much rarer in males, postmenopausal women, and pre-pubescent girls. It is difcult to diagnose because it can mimic benign conditions such as a fbroadenoma, as well as malignant diseases like a carcinoma. It is also particularly difcult to distinguish breast tuberculosis from granulomatous mastitis, so other possible diagnoses should be ruled out frst. The diagnosis of breast tuberculosis has three essential pillars: clinical examination, radiological evaluations, and histopathological sampling. Radiological evaluations are not only critical in diagnosis but are also important in the planning of the treatment and during the follow-up. This paper aims to review the imaging fndings and the differential diagnosis of breast tuberculosis.