ABSTRACT

Granulomatous mastitis (GM) is a breast disease of unknown etiology and it causes diagnostic difficulties for surgeons. Although it usually presents with sinus formation and abscesses, it causes diagnostic difficulties because of its clinical characteristics similar to those of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to identify the clinical, radiologic and pathologic characteristics of patients with GM and to show the results of surgical treatment in these patients.

In this study, 19 patients with a diagnosis of GM were treated at the Surgical Clinic of İstanbul Education and Research Hospital between January 2000 and July 2010. The median age was 35 years (range 22-52 years). All patients were evaluated by ultrasonography. Doppler ultrasonography, mammography and magnetic resonance (MR) were also used. All patients had a history of longterm unsuccessful anti-inflammatory and antibiotherapy.

In 47% of the cases, benign disease could not be differentiated from cancer. With Tru-cut biopsies, it was shown that all the lesions were benign. Four patients were treated with corticosteroid. Only one patient responded to this therapy; the remaining 18 patients were treated with wide surgical excision. No recurrences were detected in the first postoperative year.

Surgical excision is the treatment of choice, but an ideal protocol has not yet been established.

Keywords: Granulomatous mastitis, granulomatus inflammation, breast