Purpose: Granulomatous mastitis is a rare benign inflammatory breast disease of an unknown etiology. Clinically and radiologically, it can mimic a breast carcinoma. Therefore, surgeons, pathologists, radiologists need to be aware of this condition in order to avoid unnecessary mastectomies. This study examined the modalities that are important for diagnosing and treating of the granulomatous mastitis.
Methods: The data regarding 14 patients with histologically confirmed granulomatous mastitis and treated at our hospital were analyzed. Age, associated disease, parity, past history of breast feeding and oral contraceptives, radiology findings were retrospectively evaluated.
Results: Among the 14 patients, the mean age was 41 years with 5 being in their thirties. Breast pain was the most common presentation. Of the 14 patients, 11 patients had breast-fed and none had previously used oral contraceptives. No patient suffered from pulmonary tuberculosis. Preoperative mammography and ultrasonography was not helpful in identifying granulomatous mastitis. After ultrasonography, 7 patients were found to have mastitis with an abscess and a benign or malignant tumor was found in 3 patients. Two of the 14 patients were diagnosed using pre-operative fine- needle aspiration, which that showed an epithelial histiocyte or multinucleated giant cell. Three cases completely recovered after an excision. In 11 cases, incision and drainage were performed but there was a recurrence in 4 of these, which needed to be treated more than twice by an incision and drainage and steroid. The average treatment period was5 months and a recurrence was encountered in 4 patients within a 30-month follow-up period.
Conclusion: Granulomatous mastitis is rare, but it is important to make a histological diagnosis at the early stages. It is believed that a complete excision of the lesion will help prevent a recurrence, and patients with a frequent recurrence can be treated with steroid after stopping unnecessary antibiotic treatment. (J Korean Surg Soc 2006;71:90-94)
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