Abstract
Aim: Our aim in conducting this study was to ascertain the clinical, pathological, and radiological characteristics of patients diagnosed with idiopathic granulomatous mastitis in our clinic and to contribute to related literature by creating a therapy algorithm for granulomatous mastitis.
Method: A total of 62 patients diagnosed with granulomatous mastitis in our clinic were classified into three groups as per the mode of treatment they received. Among these, 20 patients who had only been administered corticosteroids were allocated to Group I, while 18 patients who had received surgical treatment in addition to corticosteroid treatment were allocated to Group II, and 24 patients who had only received surgery were allocated to Group III.
Results: All the cases were female patients. The mean age of the patients was 33.67 ± 6.35 (21-48). No statistically significant difference was found among the groups as per the mean age figures, pregnancy, breastfeeding, oral contraceptive administration, smoking and alcohol use, and family history (p>0.05). 49 (77.4%) patients were diagnosed with granulomatous mastitis by thick-needle biopsy, 7 (11.2%) by incisional biopsy, 4 (6.4%) by excisional biopsy, and 3 (4.8%) by fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) before the onset of treatment. The median value for the follow-up of the patients was 40 (6-81) months and there was no statistically significant difference among follow-up periods (p: 0.51). 15 (24.1%) patients among all the cases had recurrence. There was a statistically significant difference among the groups with regards to recurrence (p: 0.015).
Conclusion: Granulomatous mastitis may simulate breast cancer both clinically and radiologically. Recurrence is observed in patients who only received corticosteroid or surgical treatment. The combination of corticosteroid and surgical treatment significantly reduces the rate of recurrence. Therefore, this combination can be recommended as selective treatment.