Plasma Cell Mastitis Associated With Microcalcification. A Case Report.

A 72year old multiparous woman came for medical check. The mammography done on both breasts showed multiple macro calcifications of different shapes and they were orientated along the lactiferous ducts. Thread or lacelike microcalcifications were also seen in the retro-areolar regions of both breasts. Histopathology of the breast specimen disclosed plasma cell mastitis with no evidence of malignancy. Plasma cell mastitis is common in elderly women. The primary cause could be related to ducts that have lost their normal integrity. This is in keeping with aging and ultimately resulting in ductal retention, duct dilatation, and intraductal debris. These ducts may rupture with consequent extravasation of the intraductal secretions into the periductal connective tissue. Fat necrosis which develops within plasma cell mastitis may appear as microcalcification and may simulate carcinoma. This report is to create the awareness that fat necrosis which develops within plasma cell mastitis may appear as malignant microcalcification and that biopsy at the area of microcalcification is necessary to differentiate it from malignant lesion.