Inflammatory Carcinoma of the Breast

ALTHOUGH inflammatory carcinoma of the breast is an entity well known to surgeons, it is comparatively uncommon, comprising only about 1 to 4% of all breast carcinomas. Since it clinically simulates an inflammatory process, it frequently is difficult to diagnose. In 14 (18.9%) of the 74 cases seen at the Mayo Clinic between 1933 and 1945,1the condition was erroneously diagnosed "inflammatory disease" before the true carcinomatous nature was discovered. When full-blown it resembles erysipelas, and dermatologists may be consulted for diagnosis and treatment. The condition is only briefly mentioned in the dermatologic texts, and in the American dermatologic literature there is but one report of inflammatory, or erysipeloid, breast carcinoma. Leavell and Tillotson2in a recent issue of the A. M. A.