THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF TUBERCULOSIS OF THE BREAST.

Abstract

Tuberculosis of the breast is a rare disease. It may be primary-confined to the breast, or secondary to tuberculosis elsewhere. Five cases are reported of which three were primary.The clinician confuses the disease with pyogenic breast abscess and cancer. The pathologist may confuse the disease with comedomastitis. Definite diagnosis must rest on bacteriological proof, that is, positive tuberculous culture and guinea-pig inoculation.Treatment of the disease may be either medical or surgical. Medical treatment in our hands has been long and expensive, and the disease tends to reappear in further pregnancies. Surgical treatment, which usually consists of simple mastectomy, is preferable.