Epidermal cyst of the breast mimicking malignancy: clinical, radiological, and histological correlation

Abstract

Mammographic and sonographic features of an epidermal cyst may mimick a malignant lesion. Biopsy can result in complications, such as inflammation. In addition, an association between epidermal cyst and squamous carcinoma has been reported. Therefore, it is recommended that these lesions are resected.

Epidermal Inclusion Cyst Masquerading Breast Lump

“…The epidermal cysts account for 80% of cystic swelling. Epidermal inclusion cysts occur in the scalp, back and the neck region [2]. It is also reported on face, palm, sole, extremities and female external genitalia.…”

“…It is also called as keratinous cyst or epidermoid cyst. Less than forty cases have been reported in the English literature [1,2]. It is not uncommon that breast epidermal cysts are misdiagnosed clinically.…”

Ruptured Epidermal Inclusion Cyst of the Breast

“…However, very few are found in the breast [1][2][3][4][5]. To date, approximately 40 have been reported in the literature [3,4,[6][7][8][9][10][12][13][14][15][16][17]. Most that have been reported presented with a palpable mass in the breast [3,4,[6][7][8][9][10][14][15][16][17].…”

“…To date, approximately 40 have been reported in the literature [3,4,[6][7][8][9][10][12][13][14][15][16][17]. Most that have been reported presented with a palpable mass in the breast [3,4,[6][7][8][9][10][14][15][16][17]. Few of these cysts have presented with accompanying pain [3,4,6,12,[15][16][17]or noticeable change in size 4,8,14.…”

“…These cysts are composed of stratified squamous epithelium filled with lamellated keratin, occasionally with calcifications [2]. They can be caused by congenital factors, squamous metaplasia of columnar epithelium, obstructed hair follicle or pore causing inflammatory downward growth of the epidermis, or trauma related to reduction mammoplasty or needle biopsy that causes epidermal fragments to be implanted more deeply in the breast tissue [2,4,7,9,14,15].…”