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Breast involvement in visceral leishmaniasis
Emel Alimoglu1, Kagan Ceken, Enrico Cassano
1Department of Radiology, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Dumlupinar Bulvari Campus 07059 Arapsuyu, Antalya, Turkey.
Journal of Clinical Ultrasound : JCU
|August 26, 2009
Summary
Visceral leishmaniasis rarely affects the breast. This case highlights a solid breast mass caused by Leishmania, diagnosed via sonography-guided core biopsy, expanding clinical understanding of the disease.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
- Oncology
Background:
- Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) typically impacts the spleen, liver, bone marrow, and lymph nodes.
- Extranodal and rare presentations of VL, such as ocular, respiratory, or gastrointestinal involvement, are often associated with immunodepression.
- Breast involvement in VL is exceptionally rare, with only one prior reported instance.
Observation:
- A patient presented with a solid breast mass.
- The mass was suspected to be caused by Leishmania infection.
- Diagnosis was confirmed through a sonography-guided core biopsy.
Findings:
- The breast mass was definitively diagnosed as visceral leishmaniasis.
- This represents a second documented case of Leishmania-induced breast involvement.
- Sonography-guided core biopsy proved effective for diagnosis.
Implications:
- This case expands the known clinical spectrum of visceral leishmaniasis.
- It underscores the importance of considering parasitic infections in breast masses, even in atypical locations.
- Highlights the diagnostic utility of imaging-guided biopsy for rare parasitic presentations.
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