Case Report : Lymphocytic Lobulitis With Fibrocystic Disease Of The Breast

Lymphocytic lobulitis , is a fibroinflammatory benign condition of the breast which is associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus. This benign condition is uncommon and may be mistaken for inflammatory carcinoma of the breast. We report the case of a 61 year old female patient who presented with a lump in the right breast with a history of Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The lump was associated with discharge and recent onset pain. On examination a vague lump which was non mobile, involving the right breast was palpable. A single firm mobile right axillary lymph node was palpable. Peau d’orange or orange peel appearance which occurs due to blockage of sub dermal lymphatics by tumour infiltrates, was noted over the skin. Clinically the features were suggestive of inflammatory carcinoma. Mammogram suggested an inflammatory carcinoma. Ultrasound of the breast was suggestive of right duct ectasia and diffusely thickened breast with a Breast Imaging Radiology and Data System (BIRADS) score of 3. An incision biopsy was performed with histopathology confirming the lesion as lymphocytic lobulitis with fibrocystic breast disease. The patient was symptomatically managed with analgesics and reassured. She was observed on regular follow up and is currently healthy. Lymphocytic lobulitis is a rare benign lesion which mimics carcinoma. Clinically it presents with ill defined single or multiple breast lumps in young or middle aged women with thickening and hardening of skin. Magnetic Resonance Imaging better differentiates this otherwise indolent lesion from malignancies. A histopathological examination is usually confirmatory and required to alleviate concerns of patients regarding presence of a malignancy which has a much fearsome physical and psychological implication

Ultrasound as a Valuable Imaging Modality in Sclerosing Lymphocytic Lobulitis: Imaging Features Based on a Retrospective Cohort Analysis of 51 Cases

Purpose: Sclerosing lymphocytic lobulitis (SLL) is a rare benign breast condition usually associated with diabetes mellitus and whose imaging features have been assessed in few studies, limiting the adoption of diagnostic guidelines. We aimed to identify the main morphological features associated with SLL on imaging examinations (mainly ultrasound and mammography) and to retrospectively evaluate the role that each method played in the diagnostic workup (detection and indication for biopsy). Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in a high-volume single center, encompassing 51 consecutive patients (100% female; 26-78 y; 43.7 ± 15.5 y) with histopathologically proven SLL (59 lesions; 0.5-6.1 cm). Results: Most lesions (31/59; 53%) were found in asymptomatic individuals. Ultrasound detected 91.1% (51 out of 56 lesions assessed by this modality), of which 94.1% were non-circumscribed masses (BI-RADS® 4). Mammography detected 41.6% (15 out of 36 lesions assessed by this modality), with a predominance (80%) of non-calcified ones (masses, asymmetries and distortion). Two-year follow-up was achieved in 29 lesions (49%), showing complete remission (45%) or stability (41%) in most cases. Conclusions: Most lesions in this retrospective sample have been detected by means of ultrasound and had their need for biopsy indicated by this modality. Female diabetic patients younger than 40 years presenting with a palpable lesion and a non-circumscribed mass on ultrasound could be submitted to core biopsy; histopathologic findings suggestive of SLL should be considered concordant in this scenario, with subsequent conservative treatment.

Lymphocyte subsets contribute to the degree of lobulitis and ductitis in sclerosing lymphocytic lobulitis of the breast

AimsSclerosing lymphocytic lobulitis (SLL) of the breast is characterised by lymphocytic lobulitis, ductitis, vasculitis and dense keloidal fibrosis with epithelioid fibroblasts. However, the subsets of the infiltrating lymphocytes and their contribution to disease progression have not been fully explored.MethodsCD20, CD3, CD4, CD8 and regulatory T (Treg) lymphocytes were evaluated in the epithelial and vascular areas in SLL. The relationship between the lymphocyte subset in different regions and the degree of inflammation was analysed.ResultsLymphocytic infiltration was mainly located in peri-lobular, peri-ductal and peri-vascular areas. No significant differences between CD20 and CD3 lymphocytes were found in peri-epithelial areas. However, there were more intra-ductal/lobular epithelial CD3 than CD20 lymphocytes (p<0.001). For T lymphocyte subsets, more CD4 than CD8 lymphocytes were found in the peri-lobular/vascular regions (p≤0.026); but an opposite trend was seen in the intra-ductal/lobular regions (p<0.001). In the peri-lobular/vascular regions, generally, different lymphocyte subsets correlated with each other. Interestingly, in the peri-ductal region, only CD4 lymphocytes showed significant correlations with all other subsets (p≤0.020). Regarding their relationship with the degree of inflammation, significant positive correlations were observed for all subsets in peri-vascular/lobular regions (p≤0.045). Only regulatory T cells, but not the others, at the peri-ductal region showed significant correlation with the degree of inflammation at all three regions (p≤0.014).ConclusionsIn addition to B lymphocyte subsets, T lymphocyte subsets could be involved differently in SLL. CD4 lymphocytes may have a pivotal role in recruiting other subsets to the inflamed site, and triggered the cascade of inflammatory changes resulting in fibrosis.