Infectious Disease · 2 h ago
Review Identifies 40 Reported Cases of Breast Dirofilariasis
A case report and systematic review identified 40 histologically confirmed cases of breast dirofilariasis reported from 1959 to 2025. The uncommon mosquito-borne infection can resemble breast neoplasia; all reported cases were treated by excision, although most species assignments were based on morphology rather than molecular testing.
- Review identified 40 cases reported from 1959 to 2025.
- Most patients were adults and female.
- D. repens was reported in 31 cases.
- Species identification was usually based on morphology.
Researchers describe a woman in her 50s in Israel whose routine ultrasound identified a new 1.4-cm breast lesion. Imaging interpretations differed, with BI-RADS categories of 3 and 4; the lesion was sampled and histology showed a parasitic worm morphologically consistent with Dirofilaria repens. Molecular confirmation was not performed. Excision was diagnostic and therapeutic, and follow-up imaging showed no recurrence.
The authors also systematically reviewed peer-reviewed reports of histologically or molecularly confirmed primary breast dirofilariasis. They identified 40 cases published between 1959 and 2025. Most patients were female (38/40), all were adults, and reported probable acquisition was most often in the Mediterranean region (21/40) or India (6/40). D. repens was the most commonly reported species (31 cases); only two cases had molecular confirmation. Species identification in 37 cases relied on morphology and was therefore considered probable.
Breast dirofilariasis is rare but may be considered in the differential diagnosis of a solitary breast nodule in people living in or travelling to endemic areas. The evidence consists of case reports and small case series, and the Israel case’s source of infection and species could not be established with certainty. The article is an early-release version and may be revised before final publication.
In practice
For adults with a solitary breast nodule who live in or have travelled to regions where Dirofilaria is endemic, breast dirofilariasis is a rare possible alternative diagnosis to neoplasia. In the reported case, tissue examination established the diagnosis and excision was curative; the review found excision reported in all cases. This evidence comes from case reports and small series, and most species identifications were morphological rather than molecular, so it does not establish prevalence or support changes to standard breast-lesion assessment.
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Emerging Infectious Diseases: Case Report and Systematic Review of Human Breast Dirofilariasis, 1959–2025 ↗This is an automated AI-condensed summary that has not yet been reviewed by an editor. Always consult the full item at the original source.