Uncommon inflammatory breast diseases that mimic cancer : part 1

Abstract

Inflammatory breast lesions have radiologic features that often mimic those of malignancy. Infective mastitis is the most common condition that may be indistinguishable clinically from carcinomatous mastitis. This article and the next one will present less common forms of inflammatory breast disease that is even more likely to constitute a diagnostic dilemma and require biopsy. The present article will present immunologic conditions causing inflammatory disease. The next article will discuss three categories of inflammatory disease: those caused by atypical infections, vascular disease and a further group in which the cause is unknown. The immunological diseases discussed below include Churg-Strauss syndrome, amyloidosis, Wegener's granulomatosis, sacroidosis and diabetic mastopathy. All closely mimic breast cancer in their clinical picture and radiographic findings.