# Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection of the Breast: A Unique Presentation of Underlying Invasive Breast Cancer

## TL;DR

A rare case of a life-threatening breast infection revealed an underlying breast cancer, highlighting the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment.

## Contribution

This case report presents a unique instance where a necrotizing soft tissue infection of the breast was linked to invasive breast cancer.

## Key findings

- Necrotizing soft tissue infection of the breast is exceedingly rare and requires urgent medical attention.
- The infection in this case was complicated by an underlying invasive ductal carcinoma, necessitating mastectomy.
- Serial debridement followed by mastectomy was the successful treatment approach in this patient.

## Abstract

Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are life-threatening infections that most commonly affect the extremities, perineum, and abdominal wall. These infections begin with the presence of toxin-producing bacteria that invade through a defect in the skin barrier, such as a wound, laceration, trauma, or recent surgical incision. These bacteria cause subsequent tissue destruction and necrosis that can involve the superficial skin, subcutaneous tissue, fascia, and/or muscle. NSTIs can progress quickly, leading to severe sepsis, shock, and even death. NSTIs associated with the breast are an exceedingly rare occurrence, requiring early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention. In this article, we report the case of a 46-year-old woman with an NSTI of the left breast, which required serial debridement initially, and subsequently a modified radical mastectomy given a pathological diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma.