Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis

Abstract

Introduction: Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis is a benign inflammatory breast disease of unknown etiology. It presents with granulomatous changes around the lobules and ducts. This study discusses the clinical presentation, radiological examination results, and histopathological results of 30 cases diagnosed with granulomatous mastitis.Materials and Methods: The study included 30 patients that were diagnosed with granulomatous mastitis after a histopathological examination in Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical School between 2000 and 2008.Results: Of the 30 cases with granulomatous mastitis, 17 were diagnosed as idiopathic granulomatous mastitis in their histological examination. One of these cases was referred with the initial diagnosis of inflammatory breast carcinoma. Periodic acid shiff (PAS) and Erlich Ziehl Nelson (EZN) staining results were negative for all cases.Discussion: Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis is a disease seen mostly in young females in the reproductive age, which may be misdiagnosed as breast carcinoma in clinical and radiological examinations.