Extensive Multifocal Mammary Infarction - a Case Report

Abstract

Background: Breast infarction can occur in benign breast lesions, such as fibroadenomas, as well as healthy breast tissue, typically in the gravid or lactating patient. Few theories, however, exist to explain this unusual lesion. Case Report: We present a very rare case of a 27-year-old female patient with extensive, multifocal, bilateral mammary infarction. A literature search was also performed to confirm its rarity. Although solitary or limited areas of spontaneous infarction have been documented, there are no documented cases where such a large, multifocal area of involvement has occurred without obvious explanation. Conclusion: Extensive multifocal post-partum breast infarction is a rare occurrence that has potential long-term effects. This should be considered when taking patient history in post-partum patients, as well as those with extensive calcifications on mammogram years after giving birth.

Spontaneous infarcted adenoma of the mammary gland in a Wistar Hannover GALAS rat

“…Most case reports have demonstrated infarction of fibroadenomas, the most common benign breast tumors in women 9 . Histopathologically, the reported cases are characterized by extensive coagulative necrosis of tumor tissue with adjacent foamy histiocytes, fibrosis, and residual epithelium, similar to the present case 10 .…”

Breast infarction during pregnancy and lactation: A case report

“…Another factor associated with the occurrence of breast infarction is the use of oral contraceptives (4). Certain medications are known to exacerbate fibrocystic disease or compromise breast vascularity, which in turn results in mass formation and necrosis; however, none of the patient's medications have been shown to lead to breast complications (3). In the present case, the pathological examination showed hyperplastic breast lobules and ischemic necrosis, but no evidence of malignancy.…”

“…It can be mistaken for a carcinoma due to the hard consistency of the lesion. Infarcts usually occur as a single lesion, localized to a fibroadenoma, or hyperplastic lactating breast tissue during the peripartum period; however, extensive, multifocal, bilateral mammary infarction is very rare (3). Localized infarction is most frequently observed in the third trimester of pregnancy or early postpartum period.…”