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Cholesterol granuloma of the breast mimicking carcinoma: report of a case.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Osada, T; Kitayama, J; Nagawa, H
Published in: Surg Today
2002

Cholesterol granuloma of the breast is a rare benign condition which is often clinically and radiologically indistinguishable from breast carcinoma. We herein report the case of a 62-year-old asymptomatic woman who was found on a routine breast examination to have an elastic hard mass, measuring 0.9 cm in diameter, in the upper outer quadrant of the left breast. Physical examination and ultrasonography strongly suggested a carcinomatous lesion. A cytological examination of a fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimen was inconclusive because of the paucity of epithelial cells. A histological examination of excisional biopsy materials showed scattered cholesterol crystals arranged in irregular, parallel arrays, surrounded by histiocytes and giant cells, which were consistent with a diagnosis of cholesterol granuloma. This case report indicates the importance of performing a histological examination to establish the final diagnosis of cholesterol granuloma. We believe that a better awareness of this breast disease might help to prevent both a misdiagnosis and unnecessary surgery.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Surg Today

DOI

ISSN

0941-1291

Publication Date

2002

Volume

32

Issue

11

Start / End Page

981 / 984

Location

Japan

Related Subject Headings

  • Surgery
  • Humans
  • Granuloma
  • Female
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Cholesterol
  • Breast Neoplasms
  • Breast Diseases
  • Aged
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Osada, T., Kitayama, J., & Nagawa, H. (2002). Cholesterol granuloma of the breast mimicking carcinoma: report of a case. Surg Today, 32(11), 981–984. https://doi.org/10.1007/s005950200196
Osada, Takuya, Joji Kitayama, and Hirokazu Nagawa. “Cholesterol granuloma of the breast mimicking carcinoma: report of a case.Surg Today 32, no. 11 (2002): 981–84. https://doi.org/10.1007/s005950200196.
Osada T, Kitayama J, Nagawa H. Cholesterol granuloma of the breast mimicking carcinoma: report of a case. Surg Today. 2002;32(11):981–4.
Osada, Takuya, et al. “Cholesterol granuloma of the breast mimicking carcinoma: report of a case.Surg Today, vol. 32, no. 11, 2002, pp. 981–84. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s005950200196.
Osada T, Kitayama J, Nagawa H. Cholesterol granuloma of the breast mimicking carcinoma: report of a case. Surg Today. 2002;32(11):981–984.
Journal cover image

Published In

Surg Today

DOI

ISSN

0941-1291

Publication Date

2002

Volume

32

Issue

11

Start / End Page

981 / 984

Location

Japan

Related Subject Headings

  • Surgery
  • Humans
  • Granuloma
  • Female
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Cholesterol
  • Breast Neoplasms
  • Breast Diseases
  • Aged
  • 3202 Clinical sciences