title: [Granulomatous lobular mastitis: a clinicopathologic study of 68 cases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the clinical and pathologic features of granulomatous lobular mastitis (GLM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-eight cases of GLM were retrieved from the archival file. The clinical data and histologic features were retrospectively reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-eight patients presented with breast mass. Ulceration in overlying breast skin was seen in 9 cases. Most of the patients had history of breast feeding. None of them had evidence of specific infections involving the breast. The clinical and radiologic features mimicked malignancy. Histologically, GLM was characterized by the presence of non-necrotizing granulomas, usually admixed with neutrophils and associated with benign ductolobular units. The ductolobular architecture was still preserved. The duration of follow up ranged from 6 to 36 months. Four patients suffered from disease recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GLM shows clinical and radiologic features reminiscent of breast cancer. Correct diagnosis requires histologic examination of the biopsy specimens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medical Science, Beijing 100700, China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Yu-tang
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Hua-ye
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006099:Granuloma / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D058890:Granulomatous Mastitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008413:Mastitis / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000473:pathology; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult