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Factitious disease of the breast of a male due to injection of liquid plastic
Author(s) -
Rosen Ted,
Chen Minsue
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
international journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-4632
pISSN - 0011-9059
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-4362.2001.01342.x
Subject(s) - medicine , factitious disorder , disease , munchausen syndrome , psychological intervention , psychiatry , intensive care medicine , surgery , dermatology , pathology , poison control , injury prevention , medical emergency , child abuse
Abstract Background Factitious disease involving the breast is unusual. The rarely reported cases of this entity have been encountered in middle‐aged women. In general, factitious disease can be distinguished on clinical and/or psychological grounds from self‐induced disorders seen in malingerers and among those demonstrating Munchausen's syndrome. Methods We report herein a male patient displaying factitious disease of the breast due to injection of a high viscosity liquid plastic material. Results Establishment of the proper diagnosis was greatly delayed due to a lack of suspicion of this entity. Only direct confrontation of the patient with the biopsy results (lipogranulomatosis) led to a reluctant and then only partial admission of the self‐induced nature of this patient's illness. Conclusion The clinician should remain vigilant for factitious disease when confronted with chronic or recurrent lesions of a bizarre or atypical morphology. Any body site can be involved, including the breast. Management is difficult and is best accomplished in conjunction with an appropriate mental health professional. Continued dramatic surgical interventions are contraindicated.