Granulomatous Mastitis

Granulomatous lobular mastitis (GLM) is a rare and chronic benign inflammatory disease of the breast. Difficulties exist in the management of GLM for many front-line surgeons and medical specialists who care for patients with inflammatory disorders of the breast. This consensus is summarized to establish evidence-based recommendations for the management of GLM. Literature was reviewed using PubMed from January 1, 1971 to July 31, 2020. Sixty-six international experienced multidisciplinary experts from 11 countries or regions were invited to review the evidence. Levels of evidence were determined using the American College of Physicians grading system, and recommendations were discussed until consensus. Experts discussed and concluded 30 recommendations on historical definitions, etiology and predisposing factors, diagnosis criteria, treatment, clinical stages, relapse and recurrence of GLM. GLM was recommended as a widely accepted definition. In addition, this consensus introduced a new clinical stages and management algorithm for GLM to provide individual treatment strategies. In conclusion, diagnosis of GLM depends on a combination of history, clinical manifestations, imaging examinations, laboratory examinations and pathology. The approach to treatment of GLM should be applied according to the different clinical stage of GLM. This evidence-based consensus would be valuable to assist front-line surgeons and medical specialists in the optimal management of GLM.

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the autoimmune basis of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) by determining the anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) and extractable nuclear antigen (ENA) levels of patients diagnosed with IGM.Material and methodsTwenty-six IGM patients were evaluated. Serum samples were analyzed for autoantibodies by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) using a substrate kit that induced fluorescein-conjugated goat antibodies to human immunoglobulin G (IgG). IIF patterns were read at serum dilutions of 1 : 40 and 1 : 100 for ANA positivity. Using the immunoblot technique, the sera of patients were assayed at dilutions of 1 : 40 and 1 : 100 for human autoantibodies of the IgG class to 15 lines of highly purified ENAs.ResultsIn the IIF studies for ANA, positivity was identified for four different patterns in the 1 : 40 diluted preparations, for three different patients in the 1 : 100 diluted preparations and only one pattern was identified at the 1 : 320 dilution. In the ENA studies, positivity was identified for four different pattern in the 1 : 40 dilution, and only one pattern was identified at the 1 : 100 dilution.ConclusionThis study was not able to support the eventual existence of an autoimmune basis for IGM.

BackgroundIdiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a rare inflammatory disease. Because of it's uncommon etiology and rareness, diagnosis and treatment is still a challenge. Owing to wide spectrum of IGM it is difficult to standardize and optimize the treatment. The aim of this study was to report and describe the clinical signs, radiological findings, management, clinical course and the recurrence rate of the patients which were treated due to IGM.MethodsIn this retrospective review of patients diagnosed with IGM histopathologically between January 2006 and December 2011, medical reports, ultrasonography (US) and mammograhy (MMG) findings, follow-up information and recurrence were obtained from records.ResultsPainful, firm and ill defined mass was the symptom of all patients. While parenchymal heterogeneity, abscess and mass were the findings of US, increased asymmetric density was the main finding of MMG. Wide local excision was performed in 15 (62.5%) patients, incisional biopsy with abscess drainage was performed in 9 (37.5%) patients. Median follow-up was 34.8 (range 10-66) months.ConclusionsWhile the physical examination give rise to thought of breast carcinoma, the appearance of parenchymal heterogeneity and abscess formation on US especially with enlarged axillary lymph nodes support the presence of an inflammatory process. But these findings do not exclude carcinoma. Hereby, histopathologic confirmation is mandatory to ensure that a malignancy is not missed.

BackgroundThis study presents our observations on the management and follow-up of patients diagnosed with lobular granulomatous mastitis (LGM) in a cohort study. Additionally, characteristics associated with a longer disease course, as well as treatment challenges in patients with erythema nodosum, diabetes, and hyperprolactinemia, would be discussed.MethodsFrom 2015 to 2021, a total of 246 consecutive LGM patients referred to the internal medicine clinic of Ghaem teaching hospital, Mashhad, Iran, were enrolled. Regular assessments were conducted every 3 months until complete symptom resolution. Treatment responses were categorized into five groups: complete resolution, incomplete resolution, resolution with subsequent relapse, no significant improvement, and treatment cessation, with all data meticulously recorded. Telephone follow-ups were conducted with all patients at the end of the study in December 2022.ResultsA total of 156 episodes were analyzed. Prednisone was administered to 136 patients, while oral methotrexate (MTX) was prescribed to 48 cases. The median age of the cohort was 33 years (interquartile range [IQR], 29-38). Of those on prednisone, 57 (41.9%) achieved complete resolution, with 15 (11%) experiencing subsequent relapse, 33 (24.3%) showing no significant improvement, and 31 (19.9%) discontinuing treatment. Among the MTX recipients, 23 (47.9%) achieved complete resolution, while one showed incomplete resolution. Over the median follow-up of five years (IQR, 4-6), 139 (89.1%) reported complete resolution, nine (5.8%) showed incomplete resolution, and 8 (5.1%) remained symptomatic. The median disease duration was 18 months (IQR, 7-36). Abscess formation during treatment correlated with prolonged disease duration (p ConclusionsAlthough more than half of LGM patients experienced no significant improvement, recurrence, or discontinued treatment on prednisone or MTX, however, over a median follow-up of 5 years, approximately 90% of LGM patients achieved complete resolution within a median course of 18 months. The presence of abscesses during treatment and elevated plasma prolactin levels was linked to longer disease duration.