A tumour in the breast: vaccination granuloma as a differential diagnosis

Aims: Breast cancer is the most frequent type of cancer in women; special a ttention is therefore paid to tumours in the breast region. Vaccination gra nuloma is a differential diagnosis of rumours in the upper part of the brea st. Methods: All granulomatous lesions in the breast region since 1970 were ret rieved from the files of the Departments of Pathology at Odense University Hospital and Svendborg Hospital. Results: Fourteen cases with a histology compatible with vaccination granul oma were found. Eight patients had a known history of tetanus vaccination. The tumours were ovoid, or even rod-shaped, and measured between 8 x 3 mm a nd 12 x 10 mm. Histologically, there were necrotic foci surrounded by histi ocytes, lymphocytes, and plasma cells. Aluminium was detected by staining w ith solochrome azurine. Conclusions: The possibility of a vaccination granuloma should be kept in m ind in patients with a palpable tumour in the upper part of the breast. as well as in mammography screening conditions and in follow-up patients after previous treatment for breast cancer.