Inflammatory breast cancer

Overview
Inflammatory breast cancer is an especially aggressive type of breast cancer that can occur in women of any age (and, although extremely rarely, in men). It is unique because it often does not present with a lump and therefore often is not detected by mammography or ultrasound. It presents with the signs and symptoms of a breast infection such as mastitis.

IBC or Inflammatory Breast Cancer causes breast changes in the nipple and surrounding areas. Other symptoms include rapid increase in breast size, redness, persistent itching, skin hot to the touch. IBC often initially resembles mastitis, and is sometimes misdiagnosed as an insect bite.

Inflammatory breast cancer is defined histologically by the presence of cancer cells in the subdermal lymphatics on skin biopsy. Diagnosis is done with an MRI or biopsy.