Publication:

Pleomorphic invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast mimicking chronic abscess: a case report

Pleomorphic invasive lobular carcinoma (PLC) is a rare and aggressive subtype of invasive lobular carcinoma that can present with atypical clinical features, often resembling benign inflammatory conditions. A 36-year-old female presented at NIMS hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan with diffuse swelling of the left breast, clinically suspected to be a chronic abscess. Imaging revealed an ill-defined lesion involving the entire breast. FNAC suggested malignancy. Modified radical mastectomy was performed. Histopathology confirmed pleomorphic invasive lobular carcinoma with extensive lymphovascular and perineural invasion and metastases in all 22 axillary lymph nodes. Immunohistochemistry showed Luminal B molecular subtype. PLC is an aggressive tumor that may mimic benign conditions, leading to diagnostic delay. Accurate diagnosis requires clinicoradiologic correlation and histopathological confirmation with immunohistochemistry.