Cholesterol granuloma of the breast with unusual ossification features (osseous metaplasia)

Cholesterol granuloma of the breast is a rare benign condition that can be mistaken for breast cancer. We present a case of a 42-year-old woman who presented with a 1-year history of asymptomatic palpable nodule in the upper external quadrant of the right breast. Mammography and ultrasonography sugg...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pathology, research and practice research and practice, 2008-01, Vol.204 (5), p.353-356
Main Authors: Garofalo, Stefania, Casolino, Carmela, Accurso, Antonello, Falleti, Jessica
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biopsy
Breast
Breast Diseases - pathology
Breast Neoplasms - pathology
Cholesterol
Cholesterol granuloma
Diagnostic Errors - prevention & control
Female
Granuloma, Foreign-Body - pathology
Humans
Mammography
Metaplasia
Metaplastic bone
Ossification, Heterotopic
Ultrasonography, Mammary
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Summary:Cholesterol granuloma of the breast is a rare benign condition that can be mistaken for breast cancer. We present a case of a 42-year-old woman who presented with a 1-year history of asymptomatic palpable nodule in the upper external quadrant of the right breast. Mammography and ultrasonography suggested carcinoma, but excisional biopsy revealed cholesterol granuloma with unusual osseous metaplasia. Although reported to occur more frequently in the middle ear and mastoid process, we believe that better awareness of this rare benign condition is most important to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary surgery.
ISSN:0344-0338
1618-0631
DOI:10.1016/j.prp.2007.12.004