Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) associated with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is rare. It is usually associated with the cribriform-morular variant of PTC, with unusual patterns on detailed histology examination. This variant is known to have a good prognosis. Papillary thyroid carcinoma associated with FAP commonly occurs in females in their 30s and rarely in the elderly. We report a case of a 69-year-old female presenting with thyroid swelling and a history of FAP.

In experienced hands, ultrasonic shears had been found to be a useful tool in total thyroidectomy surgery as long as the safety precautions are adhered to closely. It has the advantage of minimising operating time and will eventually reduce the cost of surgery. A randomised controlled trial is thus suggested to further evaluate its efficacy.

Chronic granulomatous mastitis is known as a benign and relatively rare disorder that is often difficult to differentiate from breast carcinoma. We highlight the case of a 34-year-old woman who had recurrent episodes of right breast swelling and abscess for 8 years. These were proven to be chronic granulomatous mastitis by tissue biopsies on 3 different occasions. Her condition improved on similar courses of antibiotics and high-dose prednisolone. However, she subsequently developed progressive loss of vision due to an orbital tumour. She then underwent a craniotomy and left orbital decompression with excision of the tumour, which proved to be a metastatic carcinoma. A trucut biopsy of the right breast was then done and showed features consistent with an infiltrating ductal carcinoma. This case illustrates the possibility that chronic granulomatous mastitis could be a precursor for malignancy and the difficulty in differentiating one from the other. The possible mechanisms of development and the implications for future management are also discussed.

Lymphocytic mastitis, or diabetic mastopathy, is an unusual finding in early-onset and long-standing diabetes. It can presents as a non-tender or tender palpable breast mass. Mammogram and ultrasound frequently demonstrate findings suspicious of malignancy, thus biopsy and histological confirmation is usually required. We reviewed two cases of lymphocytic mastitis with characteristics findings on mammogram, ultrasound, and histopathology. Diagnoses were confirmed with excision biopsy.
Breast Neoplasms ; Diabetes Mellitus