Breast mass caused by rib tuberculosis abscess.

Tuberculosis involving ribs and presenting with breast mass is a very rare entity and only a few cases have been reported in the literature previously. A 35 year-old patient had a retromammarial abscess revealed by a mass in the medial quadrant of right breast. Midsternal incision for abscess drainage and a partial resection of involved ribs was performed. Histopathologic evaluation revealed rib tuberculosis and secondary abscess formation in the right breast. This unusual manifestation of tuberculosis should be included in differential diagnosis of high-risk patients presenting with a breast mass.