[Tuberculosis of the breast]

Tuberculosis of the breast is a rare modern disease or a forgotten diagnosis. During the last 15 years (1982-1996), 28 cases of mammary tuberculosis were reported in Japan. The initial diagnosis of almost all were carcinoma. Physical sign, mammography and USG are not so usefull for the diagnosis. It is important for the early and certain diagnosis to detect acid-fast bacilli on smear or culture and to perform pathological examination on biopsied specimen.