Granulomatous mastitis: surgical outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
To report the clinical and pathological features and surgical treatment outcomes of patients with granulomatous mastitis.


METHODS
Case series.


METHODS
Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, between 1999-2003.


METHODS
Data of 16 patients with granulomatous mastitis treated surgically by total excision with disease-free margins were reviewed. Patients given additional medical therapy or treated with mastectomy because of the size and extent of the disease were excluded.


RESULTS
The mean age of patients at the time of diagnosis was 31.8 (range: 22-45 years). All patients were diagnosed from the pathological tissue specimens obtained by surgery. Clinical and radiological examinations suggested breast carcinoma in 82.1% patients. Except one patient who developed a fistula from the incision which was treated again with surgery, no other complications were noted, including recurrence of disease during a median follow-up period of 12.8 months (range: 4-30 months).


CONCLUSIONS
Although granulomatous mastitis is a rare benign breast disease, it usually mimics breast carcinoma both clinically and radiologically, making the diagnosis difficult and challenging. As long as good cosmetic results can be achieved, surgical excision is quick, safe and effective treatment method for idiopathic granulomatous mastitis.
Güven
H Erhan
HE
Department of General Surgery, Ankara Oncology Research and Training Hospital, Demetevler, Ankara, Turkey. heguven@gmail.com
Pak
Isin
I
Oral
Süleyman
S
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008413:Mastitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome