# Clinically diagnosed tetanus in a 58-year-old female with breast fungating mass

## TL;DR

A 58-year-old woman with a breast tumor developed tetanus, highlighting the risk of infection from necrotic tumors.

## Contribution

Presents a rare case linking tetanus to a fungating breast tumor, emphasizing the need for clinical awareness in similar cases.

## Key findings

- Tetanus can occur in patients with necrotic tumors like fungating breast masses.
- Trismus in such patients should prompt consideration of tetanus.
- Early clinical diagnosis and treatment are critical for managing tetanus in non-traumatic settings.

## Abstract

Tetanus remains a rare but potentially fatal disease, typically associated with traumatic wounds. However, necrotic malignancies such as fungating breast tumors may also serve as an entry point for Clostridium tetani infection.

We report the case of a 58-year-old female with a 3-year history of a fungating left breast mass who presented with trismus. A diagnosis of tetanus was made clinically. The patient received treatment with anti-tetanus globulin, metronidazole, and she was placed in a dark room with sound insulation and shielding. The surgical team was consulted for wound management. However, in accordance with the patient’s refusal, surgical debridement was not performed. Instead, local wound cleansing and supportive management were initiated.

Tetanus should be considered in patients with necrotic tumors presenting with trismus, especially in low-resource settings where immunization histories are uncertain. Early intervention is crucial to reduce morbidity and prevent complications.