Beyond Mastitis: Unveiling A Case of Breast Tuberculosis

Breast tuberculosis is an uncommon form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis and remains a diagnostic challenge, particularly in its primary presentation. We report the case of a 35-year-old previously healthy woman who presented with breast pain, purulent discharge, and a nodule in the left breast. She initially received antibiotic therapy for mastitis without improvement, progressing to abscess formation. Imaging studies and biopsy excluded malignancy, reporting chronic granulomatous mastitis; however, lack of response led to further evaluation. Ziehl-Neelsen staining ultimately confirmed Mycobacterium tuberculosis, establishing the diagnosis of primary breast tuberculosis. The patient completed standard antitubercular therapy with full clinical resolution and complete healing of the lesion. This case highlights the importance of including breast tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of persistent breast lesions, even in immunocompetent patients without a history of tuberculosis.