Onco-reconstructive techniques in the treatment of tuberculosis of the breast

A 54-year-old woman presented with mastitis, which did not respond to conventional oral antibiotic therapy. Tissue biopsy led to the diagnosis of tuberculosis of the breast. The underlying causative organism was found to be Mycobacterium abscessus, recognised as being a particularly pathogenic strain of tuberculosis.(1) Initial treatment involved surgical debridement and antibiotic therapy. Following this, onco-reconstructive techniques were used to remove scarred tissue from the affected side and reduce the contra lateral breast to match leading to a good aesthetic outcome.