Abstract

Introduction: Granulomatous mastitis (GM) is a rare, chronic inflammatory condition of obscure etiology, varied clinical and pathological features. Methods: This was a restrospective, three-year analysis, of the clinical and histological parameters of diagnosed cases of GM. Results: An analysis of age at presentation revealed the mean age as 35.3 yr. Clinical data was available for 26 patients and the mean lesional size was 5.3 x 4.3 cm. The most common presenting complaint was as a lump, with diffuse swelling and nipple discharge next in frequency. Clinical diagnosis varied widely from benign to malignant. Treatment administered included incision and curettage, lumpectomy and simple mastectomy. Thirty-eight cases reviewed showed granulomas in all the cases. Caseous necrosis was absent. Special stains for tubercular bacilli and fungi had been done in 26 cases and were negative. Follow-up ranged from 3–5.5 years. Recurrence was documented in 57.6% of patients. Conclusion: GM, generally, is a disease of young women that is of particular significance since it can easily be mistaken for malignancy. Histopathological diagnosis is confirmatory.

• 1.   Kessler E, Wooloch Y. Granulomatous mastitis: a lesion clinically simulating carcinoma. Am J Clin Pathol. 1972 Dec;58(6):642–6.
• 2.   Cohen C. Granulomatous mastitis: a review of 5 cases. S Afr Med J. 1977 Jul 2;52(1):15–6.
• 3.   Bhansali M. Granulomatous mastitis: A rare presentation. Bombay Hospital Journal. 2008;50(3):490–92.
• 4.   Tuli R, J O’Hara B, Hines J, et al. Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis masquerading as carcinoma of the breast: a case report and review of the literature. Int Semin Surg Oncol. 2007 Jul 27;4:21.
• 5.   Larsen LJH, Peyvandi B, Grant E, et al. Granulomatous lobular mastitis: Imaging, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Am J Roentgenol. 2009 Aug;193(2):574–81.
• 6.   Ozturk E, Akin M, Can MF, et al. Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis. Saudi Med J. 2009;30(1):45–9.
• 7.   Belaabidia B, Essadki O, el Mansouri A, et al. Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis: apropos of 8 cases and review of the literature. Gynecol Obstet Fertil. 2002;30(5):383–9.
• 8.   Lai EC, Chan WC, Ma TK, et al. The role of conservative treatment in idiopathic granulomatous mastitis. Breast J. 2005;11:454–6.
• 9.   Kocaoglu M, Somuncu I, Ors F, et al. Imaging findings in idiopathic granulomatous mastitis. A review with emphasis on magnetic resonance imaging. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 2004;28:635–41.
• 10.   Olsen ML, Dilaveri CA. Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis: a case report of breast abscess. BMJ Case Reports. 2011;10.
• 11.   Aghajanzadeh M, Hassanzadeh R, Sefat SA. Granulomatous mastitis: Presentations, diagnosis, treatment and outcome in 206 patients from the north of Iran. Breast. 2015;24(4):456–60.
• 12.   Helal TEA, Shash LS, Saad El-Din SA, et al. Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis: cytologic and histologic study of 65 Egyptian patients. Acta Cytologica. 2016;60(5):438–44.
• 13.   Deng JQ, Yu L, Yang Y. Steroids administered after vacuum-assisted biopsy in the management of idiopathic granulomatous Mastitis. J Clin Pathol. 2017;70(10):827–31.
• 14.   Halim NA, Uthman I, Rammal R, et al. Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis Presenting as a Breast Pseudotumor: Case Reports with Review of the Literature. Case Reports in Rheumatology. 2018;2018:5.
• 15.   Kiyak G, Dumlu EG, Kilinc I, et al. Management of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis: dilemmas in diagnosis and treatment. BMC Surg. 2014 Sep 4;14:66.

Data Sharing Statement

Funding