ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinicopathologic features of granulomatous lobular mastitis and mammary duct ectasia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinicopathologic data from August 2005 to May 2013 of 32 cases of granulomatous lobular mastitis and mammary duct ectasia were retrospectively reviewed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The age of patients ranged from 26 to 45 years. Two patients had no history of delivery. Fourteen patients had no history of lactation or lactational disorder in the lesional side. Most of the remaining patients had history of breast feeding. Gross examination showed that the lesions were poorly circumscribed and varied from 3 to 12 cm in greatest dimension. Tiny abscess cavities, ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 cm in diameter and containing light yellowish to greyish secretion, were demonstrated. Histologic examination showed granuloma formation and ductal dilatation. Eleven patients had received antibiotic treatment. Twelve cases were complicated by sinus formation related to skin incision and drainage. The duration of follow-up ranged from 5 to 90 months. Three cases showed ipsilateral recurrence and 3 cases had similar pathology in the contralateral breast. Four patients defaulted follow-up.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Granulomatous lobular mastitis is associated with mammary duct ectasia. Accurate pathologic diagnosis is prudent for clinical management and control of local recurrence.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Anti-Bacterial Agents , Therapeutic Uses , Breast Diseases , Drug Therapy , Pathology , General Surgery , Breast Feeding , Dilatation, Pathologic , Drug Therapy , Pathology , General Surgery , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Therapeutic Uses , Follow-Up Studies , Granulomatous Mastitis , Drug Therapy , Pathology , General Surgery , Mammary Glands, Human , Pathology , General Surgery , Recurrence , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinical and pathologic features of granulomatous lobular mastitis (GLM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-eight cases of GLM were retrieved from the archival file. The clinical data and histologic features were retrospectively reviewed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>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.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>GLM shows clinical and radiologic features reminiscent of breast cancer. Correct diagnosis requires histologic examination of the biopsy specimens.</p>