Mastopathy in Insulin-dependent Diabetics

Abstract

A type of mastopathy is unique to insulin-dependent diabetic patients. The characteristic change is a connective tissue overgrowth with vasculitis and some proliferation of duct epithelium. It is not the type of change typically associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Clinically this change is indistinguishable by physical or radiographic findings from breast malignancy. Eleven biopsies showing these characteristics were performed on insulin-dependent patients who had diabetes mellitus from childhood. Every patient had some major complication of diabetes mellitus, usually diabetic retinopathy. In every instance the mastopathy continued to manifest itself as a part of the healing process. The probability is that this is an evidence in the breast of collagen cross-linking changes seen in patients with diabetes mellitus. This observation should help in the supervision of patients with a clinical background compatible with this study.

Regression of the fibrous disease of the breast in a non-diabetic woman after pregnancy and breastfeeding

“…On the mammography, they may or not be visible. In the eight cases described by Byrd et al (25), it was difficult to make the diagnosis and breast cancer was the differential diagnosis, as it happened to the patient.…”

An Uncommon Case of Diabetic Mastopathy in Type II Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

“…Mammography shows the presence of a dense parenchymal structure with no distortions or microcalcifications 5,6) . Ultra- sound findings vary from irregular hypoechoic mass with marked acoustic shadowing to a vague hypoechoic area without shadowing 5,6,8) . These appearances are nonspecific and mimic those of scirrhous or invasive lobular carcinoma 19,20,33) .…”

“…Until recently, most researchers have reported that diabetic mastopathy usually occurs in patients who have suffered from type diabetes mellitus of long duration [4][5][6][7] . Although there have been some reports of diabetic mastopathy in a patient with type diabetes mellitus, there have been few cases in non-insulin dependent patients 3,[8][9][10][11][12] .…”

Diabetic Mastopathy in an Elderly Woman: A Case Report

“…Seidman et al 6) reported a mean duration of longer than 13 years (range 4 -27 years) for diabetic mastopathy to develop. Mammographic appearances show the presence of a dense parenchymal structure with no distortions or microcalcifications 7,12) . Ultrasound findings vary from irregular hypoechoic mass with marked acoustic shadowing to a vague hypoechoic area without shadowing 7,12) .…”