Non-sclerosing (T-cell) and sclerosing (B-cell) lymphocytic lobulitis in diagnostic breast biopsies: Clinical, imaging, and pathologic features.

Lymphocytic lobulitis (LL) is characterized by prominent lymphocytic infiltrates centered on lobules. Sclerosing lymphocytic lobulitis (SCLL) associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) or autoimmune disease (AI) was the first type to be described. Subsequently, non-sclerosing LL (NSCLL) was reported as an incidental finding in prophylactic mastectomies due to high risk germline mutations or a family history of breast cancer. The two types of LL were distinguished by stromal features and a predominant population of B-cells in the former and T-cells in the latter. In this study, 8 cases of NSCLL detected clinically or by screening were compared to 44 cases of SCLL. One case of NSCLL presented as a palpable mass, 2 as masses on screening, and 5 as MRI enhancement. In contrast, 80% of SCLL cases presented as palpable masses. Half the cases of NSCLL were associated with a BRCA1 or 2 mutation compared to 1 case of SCLL (2%). Three additional cases of NSCLL were associated with a strong family and/or personal history of breast cancer. Almost half (52%) of SCLL cases were associated with DM or AI, but only 25% of NSCLL. Immunoperoxidase studies confirmed a predominance of T-cells in NSCLL and B-cells in SCLL associated with DM or AI. It is important for pathologists to be aware of this new observation that NSCLL can be detected as a palpable mass or an imaging finding in diagnostic biopsies, as its presence can be indicative of a significant risk for breast cancer.

Mammography and Ultrasonography Manifestations of Sclerosing Lymphocytic Lobulitis of the Breast: A Series of Seven Case Reports.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to analyze mammography and ultrasonography (US) manifestations of sclerosing lymphocytic lobulitis (SLL) of the breast. METHODS: A total of 8 pathologically confirmed SLL lesions from seven women (with one patient having bilateral breast lesions) were included in the study. All patients underwent preoperative mammography and US examinations. The findings from both modalities were classified and compared to their corresponding clinical data. RESULTS: Four patients were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. Mammography results revealed that seven lesions presented as focal asymmetry or asymmetry. Seven lesions were observed as non-mass lesions on US examination. The most commonly observed US lesion features were as follows: seven lesions had focal non-ductal hypoechoic areas (87.5%), seven lesions exhibited posterior shadowing (87.5%), all lesions showed no vascularity or vessels in the rim (100%), no lesion had calcifications (0%), five lesions had an elasticity score of 3 (100%), one lesion showed retraction on the coronal plane (20%), and one lesion displayed a skipping sign on the coronal plane (20%). Based on these US findings, seven lesions (87.5%) were classified as BI-RADS 4. CONCLUSION: The mammography findings for SLL are often nonspecific. However, the US features of SLL typically present as non-mass lesions. The absence of calcification and vascularity and no retraction on the coronal plane inside the lesion may help to differentiate this disease from the conventional forms of breast carcinoma.

Diabetic Fibrous Mastopathy: Imaging Features With Histopathologic Correlation.

Diabetic fibrous mastopathy (DFM) is a rare benign fibrotic disease of the breast that develops in patients with longstanding and often uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. Clinically, patients may present with an irregular, firm, palpable mass, which may be solitary or multiple, occurring in one or both breasts. Diabetic fibrous mastopathy occurs most often in premenopausal women with heterogeneously or extremely dense breasts; mammography may show focal asymmetry or, less often, a noncalcified mass with indistinct or obscured margins, but there are usually no discrete findings. On US, DFM may have marked hypoechogenicity and posterior shadowing secondary to extensive fibrosis. Diabetic fibrous mastopathy features on contrast-enhanced MRI are also nonspecific, with gradual persistent nonmass enhancement reported. Because the clinical presentation and US features of DFM overlap with those of breast cancer, histopathologic correlation is needed to confirm diagnosis and exclude malignancy. These findings include collagenous stroma often with keloidal features and chronic perilobular and perivascular inflammation. Histopathologic findings of lymphocytic lobulitis and perivascular inflammation are common to other autoimmune conditions.

Ultrasound as a Valuable Imaging Modality in Sclerosing Lymphocytic Lobulitis: Imaging Features Based on a Retrospective Cohort Analysis of 51 Cases.

PURPOSE: Sclerosing lymphocytic lobulitis (SLL) is a rare benign breast condition usually associated with diabetes mellitus and whose imaging features have been assessed in few studies, limiting the adoption of diagnostic guidelines. We aimed to identify the main morphological features associated with SLL on imaging examinations (mainly ultrasound and mammography) and to retrospectively evaluate the role that each method played in the diagnostic workup (detection and indication for biopsy). METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in a high-volume single center, encompassing 51 consecutive patients (100% female; 26-78 y; 43.7 ± 15.5 y) with histopathologically proven SLL (59 lesions; 0.5-6.1 cm). RESULTS: Most lesions (31/59; 53%) were found in asymptomatic individuals. Ultrasound detected 91.1% (51 out of 56 lesions assessed by this modality), of which 94.1% were non-circumscribed masses (BI-RADS® 4). Mammography detected 41.6% (15 out of 36 lesions assessed by this modality), with a predominance (80%) of non-calcified ones (masses, asymmetries and distortion). Two-year follow-up was achieved in 29 lesions (49%), showing complete remission (45%) or stability (41%) in most cases. CONCLUSIONS: Most lesions in this retrospective sample have been detected by means of ultrasound and had their need for biopsy indicated by this modality. Female diabetic patients younger than 40 years presenting with a palpable lesion and a non-circumscribed mass on ultrasound could be submitted to core biopsy; histopathologic findings suggestive of SLL should be considered concordant in this scenario, with subsequent conservative treatment.

Diabetic Mastopathy: Reporting an Unusual Scenario of a Rare Disease.

Diabetic mastopathy is a rare, benign breast disease that presents with fibrous breast lumps usually induced by the hyperglycemic state in diabetic patients and often associated with type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus. Clinical and radiographic appearances are usually confusing and pathologic confirmation is essential for diagnosis mainly to rule out malignancy. However, a specialized breast pathologist often utilizes patient's history of diabetes as a guide to solve this diagnostic dilemma. We report a challenging scenario in which a case of diabetic fibrous mastopathy was pathologically identified with no previous given history of diabetes. This benign breast entity should be included in the differential diagnosis of breast lumps even without history of diabetes that may be overlooked before surgery.

Image analysis of immune cell patterns in the human mammary gland during the menstrual cycle refines lymphocytic lobulitis.

PURPOSE: To improve microscopic evaluation of immune cells relevant in breast cancer oncoimmunology, we aim at distinguishing normal infiltration patterns from lymphocytic lobulitis by advanced image analysis. We consider potential immune cell variations due to the menstrual cycle and oral contraceptives in non-neoplastic mammary gland tissue. METHODS: Lymphocyte and macrophage distributions were analyzed in the anatomical context of the resting mammary gland in immunohistochemically stained digital whole slide images obtained from 53 reduction mammoplasty specimens. Our image analysis workflow included automated regions of interest detection, immune cell recognition, and co-registration of regions of interest. RESULTS: In normal lobular epithelium, seven CD8[Formula: see text] lymphocytes per 100 epithelial cells were present on average and about 70% of this T-lymphocyte population was lined up along the basal cell layer in close proximity to the epithelium. The density of CD8[Formula: see text] T-cell was 1.6 fold higher in the luteal than in the follicular phase in spontaneous menstrual cycles and 1.4 fold increased under the influence of oral contraceptives, and not co-localized with epithelial proliferation. CD4[Formula: see text] T-cells were infrequent. Abundant CD163[Formula: see text] macrophages were widely spread, including the interstitial compartment, with minor variation during the menstrual cycle. CONCLUSIONS: Spatial patterns of different immune cell subtypes determine the range of normal, as opposed to inflammatory conditions of the breast tissue microenvironment. Advanced image analysis enables quantification of hormonal effects, refines lymphocytic lobulitis, and shows potential for comprehensive biopsy evaluation in oncoimmunology.

Diagnostic and therapeutic management of diabetic mastopathy: a case report.

Sclerosing lymphocytic lobulitis (SLL) is a benign breast lesion, better known as diabetic mastopathy (DMP), since it tipically occurs in diabetic patients. This very uncommon condition is strongly associated with type I diabetes mellitus. We report a case of a 61-year-old woman, with type II insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, who presented mammography and ultrasonography images suspicious for breast carcinoma. As histopathology surprisingly demonstrated SLL and breast MRI showed benign characteristics, unnecessary surgery was avoided. The aim of this report is to underline that DMP is an uncommon clinicopathological entity which can clinically and radiologically mimic breast cancer but also that breast carcinoma may be hidden within these dense fibrotic lesions. In the light of cases reported in literature, breast MRI can be considered an essential tool in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of DMP.

Sclerosing lymphocytic lobulitis manifesting as suspicious microcalcifications with Hashimoto's thyroiditis in a young woman.

Sclerosing lymphocytic lobulitis (SLL) is a rare inflammatory disorder, which is also known as fibrous mastopathy and lymphocytic mastitis. It is commonly associated with autoimmune disorders, particularly type 1 diabetes and thyroiditis. We report the case of a 28-year-old woman diagnosed as SLL with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, but without diabetes. She presented suspicious microcalcifications without palpable mass in routine mammograms in both breasts. She had been diagnosed as Hashimoto's thyroiditis several years before and had been followed up in endo-clinics.