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Crohn's disease presenting as a breast abscess: a case report
K Ladefoged1, E Balslev, G B Jemec
1Department of Medicine, Roskilde County Hospital in Køge (RASK), Denmark. karin.ladefoged@dadlnet.dk
Summary
This case report details cutaneous Crohn's disease (CD) affecting the breasts, initially misdiagnosed as an abscess. It highlights CD as a systemic disorder with potential for prominent extraintestinal skin manifestations.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Gastroenterology
- Pathology
Background:
- Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory condition.
- Extraintestinal manifestations of CD can involve the skin.
- Cutaneous involvement may precede or accompany gastrointestinal symptoms.
Observation:
- A 45-year-old woman presented with lesions in the areola-nipple region, initially treated as an abscess.
- Histopathology revealed granulomatous inflammation with eosinophils, indicative of extraintestinal CD.
- The patient also had umbilical and severe anogenital cutaneous CD lesions.
Findings:
- The breast lesions were diagnosed as cutaneous Crohn's disease.
- Despite a history of treated colitis, skin manifestations were prominent.
- Standard treatments showed limited efficacy on the skin lesions.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering CD in unexplained skin lesions, particularly in patients with a history of inflammatory bowel disease.
- Cutaneous CD can present in unusual locations like the breast areola-nipple region.
- Systemic management strategies may be required for severe or refractory cutaneous CD.