Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis: a medical or surgical disease of the breast?

Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis, Erythema Nodosum, and Polyarthritis

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is an inflammatory-mediated rare disease that can be linked to rare manifestations. Erythema nodosum (EN) and polyarthritis, seen in a multitude of autoinflammatory and autoimmune diseases, have been rarely linked to IGM. Despite the cause of IGM being unclear, Corynebacterium infections are thought to play a role in the pathophysiology of IGM. Unusually, IGM has a relapsing and remitting course, which also applies to its systemic manifestations. As such, we present a case of IGM in a middle-aged lady who was initially thought to have Corynebacterium-containing unilateral abscesses for which drainage was performed. However, several abscesses devoid of bacterial growth started recurring, and the disease course was complicated by EN and polyarthritis. IGM, EN, and polyarthritis eventually resolved and were managed with symptomatic treatment.

Refractory and Recurrent Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis Treatment: Adaptive, Randomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is mostly described as an autoimmune disease with higher prevalence among Middle Eastern childbearing-age women. This study aimed to evaluate the best treatment of choice in patients with resistant or recurrent IGM.

STUDY DESIGN

Patients with established recurrent or resistant IGM who were referred to the Breast Cancer Research Center from 2017 to 2020 were randomly assigned to either one of the following treatment groups: A (best supportive care), B (corticosteroids: prednisolone), and C (methotrexate and low-dose corticosteroids). This adaptive clinical trial evaluated radiological and clinical responses, as well as the potential side effects, on a regular basis in each group, with patients followed up for a minimum of 2 years.

RESULTS

A total of 318 participants, with a mean age of 33.52 ± 6.77 years, were divided into groups A (10 patients), B (78 patients), and C (230 patients). In group A, no therapeutic response was observed; group B exhibited a mixed response, with 14.1% experiencing complete or partial responses, 7.7% maintaining stability, and 78.2% experiencing disease progression. Accordingly, groups A and B were terminated due to inadequate response. In group C, 94.3% achieved complete response, 3% showed partial remission, and 2.7% had no response to therapy. Among the entire patient cohort, 11.6% tested positive for antinuclear antibodies, 3.5% for angiotensin-converting enzyme, and 12.3% for erythema nodosum. Notably, hypothyroidism was a prevalent condition among the patients, affecting 7.2% of the cohort. The incidence of common side effects was consistent across all groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The most effective treatment option for patients with recurrent or resistant IGM is a combination therapy involving steroids and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs such as methotrexate.

A meta-analysis of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis treatments for remission and recurrence prevention

Purpose

The major aim of our meta-analysis was to review the effectiveness of various treatment modalities for achieving successful remission and preventing recurrence for women with idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM). This knowledge is instrumental in developing evidence-based guidelines for clinicians to improve management strategies and outcomes for patients with IGM.

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed on MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Elsevier), PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Google Scholar; studies published to 19 January 2022 were included. A meta-analysis of 57 observational studies was performed. The results of two randomized controlled trials were also examined.

Results

There were 3,035 IGM patients across the observational and randomised studies. Overall recurrence and remission rates across all treatment strategies in 59 studies are 87.9% (2,667/3035) and 13.5% (359/2667), respectively. The studies reported 19 different treatment strategies, comprising observation, medical monotherapies, surgery, and combinations involving medical therapies, with and without surgery. Among monotherapy treatment, surgical management had the highest pooled remission rate (0.99 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.97-1.00]); among combination therapy, this was steroids and surgery (0.99 [0.94-1.00]). Antibiotic monotherapy had the lowest remission rate (0.72 [0.37-0.96]). The highest recurrence rates belonged to treatments that combined antibiotics and surgery (0.54 [0.02-1.00]), and antibiotics, steroids, and surgery (0.57 [0.00-1.00]). Most successful for preventing recurrence were observation (0.03 [0.00-0.10]), methotrexate (0.08 [0.00-0.24]), and steroids and surgery (0.05 [0.01-0.12]). There is a significant association between longer follow-up duration and recurrence rate reported, p = 0.002.

Conclusion

Combination therapies, especially those incorporating antibiotics, steroids, and surgery, have demonstrated higher remission rates, challenging the use of antibiotic monotherapy. There is an increased emphasis on the need for personalised, multi-pronged approach for preventing IGM recurrence, with longer follow-up care. More prospective future work in IGM research, with standardised diagnostic criteria, treatment protocols, and reporting guidelines will be important for developing treatment protocols and guidelines clinicians can adhere to in the clinical management of IGM patients.Systematic review registration: PROSPERO (CRD42022301386).

Ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted excision for idiopathic granulomatous mastitis at the abscess stage

BACKGROUND

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a rare inflammatory disease of the breast with clinical features that are often confused with those of breast cancer leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness and cosmetic results of drainage surgery using ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted excision (VAE) for the treatment of IGM at the abscess stage.

METHODS

The time of recovery, cases of further surgical intervention, and cosmetic results were retrospectively collected and analyzed from patients who underwent drainage with VAE or conventional drainage between October 2017 and August 2021.

RESULTS

A total of 65 patients diagnosed with IGM at the abscess stage who underwent drainage surgery with VAE or conventional drainage surgery were enrolled. Overall, 38 (58.5%) underwent conventional drainage surgery and 27 (41.5%) underwent drainage with VAE. We found that patients who underwent VAE recovered much faster than those who underwent traditional drainage surgery (30.1 vs. 48.0 days). Nine (33.3%) patients in the VAE group required further surgical intervention after drainage, whereas 33 (86.8%) patients in the control group underwent another surgery to resect residual lesions. Additionally, patients in the VAE group were more satisfied with the breast appearance, mainly due to less influence of the scars and better symmetry of their breasts.

CONCLUSION

Compared with conventional drainage surgery, drainage surgery using VAE for IGM patients at the abscess stage improved therapeutic and cosmetic outcomes. Furthermore, postoperative management of IGM is crucial.

Treatment modalities for granulomatous mastitis, seeking the most appropriate treatment with the least recurrence rate: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Granulomatous mastitis (GM) is a rare, benign, inflammatory breast disease with an unknown etiology that predominantly affects women of reproductive age. The definitive treatment of GM is currently controversial; an appropriate therapeutic strategy has yet to be identified, and the disease's high recurrence rate remains. This study aims to determine the recurrence rate for each GM treatment strategy to identify the most appropriate treatment modality.

METHODS

The search for relevant articles was undertaken using three international databases, including Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science. Articles published in English until the end of 2021 evaluating the recurrence rate of GM were included. Using Stata 13.0, the pooled incidence and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the recurrence rate were determined.

RESULTS

Sixty-five eligible studies were included in our study. The recurrence rates of systemic steroid use, topical steroid use, antibiotic use, methotrexate use, observation, drainage, excision, antibiotic use and surgery, steroid use and surgery, antibiotic and steroid use, methotrexate and steroid use were 24% (95% CI: 21-27%), 11% (95% CI: 6-21%), 18% (95% CI: 14-22%), 13% (95% CI: 7-22%), 11% (95% CI: 7-17%), 65% (95% CI: 50-78%), 13% (95% CI: 10-16%), 23% (95% CI: 14-36%), 7% (95% CI: 5-11%), 11% (95% CI: 6-18%), and 4% (95% CI: 2-8%), respectively. Drainage had the highest recurrence rate, while combined methotrexate and steroid treatment had the lowest rate.

CONCLUSION

The optimal treatment strategy for GM depends on the disease's severity, consequences, and the patient's features. The study results indicate that combination therapy is preferable for minimizing the risk of relapse and reducing treatment complications.

Factors Affecting Recurrence of Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis: A Systematic Review

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis is a rare and benign disease that primarily affects young women of reproductive age. Various factors have been suggested as possible causes, including pregnancy, breastfeeding, history of taking birth control pills, hyperprolactinemia, smoking, and history of trauma. Due to unknown etiology, opinions on its treatment have varied, resulting in differing recurrence rates and side effects. Therefore, conducting a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis can aid in understanding the causes and recurrence of the disease, thereby assisting in the selection of effective treatment and improving the quality of life. A systematic literature review was conducted using predefined search terms to identify eligible studies related to risk factors and recurrence up to June 2022 from electronic databases. Data were extracted and subjected to meta-analysis when applicable. A total of 71 studies with 4735 patients were included. The mean age of the patients was 34.98 years, and the average mass size was 4.64 cm. About 3749 of these patients (79.17%) were Caucasian. Patients who mentioned a history of pregnancy were 92.65% with 76.57%, 22.7%, and 19.7% having a history of breastfeeding, taking contraceptive pills, and high prolactin levels, respectively. Around 5.6% of patients had previous trauma. The overall recurrence rate was 17.18%, with recurrence rates for treatments as follows: surgery (22.5%), immunosuppressive treatment (14.7%), combined treatment (14.9%), antibiotic treatment (6.74%), and observation (9.4%). Only antibiotic and expectant treatments had significant differences in recurrence rates compared to other treatments (p value = 0.023). In conclusion, factors such as Caucasian race, pregnancy and breastfeeding history, and use of contraceptive hormone are commonly associated with the disease recurrence. Treatment should be tailored based on symptom severity and patient preference, with surgery or immunosuppressive options for recurrence.

What predicts the recurrence in ıdiopathic granulomatous mastitis?

INTRODUCTION

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a rarely seen chronic and benign disease of the breast. IGM usually emerges in women between 30 and 45 years of age and within the first 5 years after lactation. There is no consensus on the treatment of the disease. Steroids, immunosuppressive agents such as methotrexate and azathioprine, antibiotics, and surgical and conservative treatments can be preferred. In the present study, it was aimed to demonstrate the treatment options and follow-up data of the patients with IGM and to investigate the effective factors on recurrence if developed in the follow-up period.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

The data of 120 patients diagnosed with idiopathic granulomatous mastitis were evaluated for this cross-sectional retrospective study. The demographic, clinical, treatment, and follow-up features of the patients were obtained from the file records.

RESULTS

The median age value of the 120 female patients included in the study was 35 (24-67) years. Of the patients, 45%, 79.2%, 49.2%, and 15% had a past history of surgical intervention, steroid use, methotrexate use, and azathioprine use, respectively. Recurrent lesion developed after the treatment in 57 (47.5%) patients. The recurrence rate was 66.1% in the patients who underwent surgical intervention in the initial treatment. There was a statistically significant difference between the patients with and without recurrence regarding the presence of abscess, the presence of recurrent abscess, and having surgical intervention as the initial treatment in the past history. The rate of having surgery was statistically significantly higher compared with the administration of steroid therapy alone and the combination of steroid and immunosuppressive therapy in the initial treatment of the patients who developed recurrence. The rate of having surgery together with the administration of steroid and immunosuppressive therapy was statistically significantly higher than the administration of steroid and immunosuppressive therapies.

DISCUSSION

Our study showed that surgical intervention and the presence of abscess increased recurrence in the treatment of IGM. Key Points • This study has shown that surgical intervention and the presence of abscess increase recurrence. • A multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of IGM and management of the disease by the rheumatologists may be critical.

Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis (IGM): Clinical Features and Non-Surgical Management

Background: Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis (IGM) is a benign disease; it can clinically and radiologically mimic the symptoms of breast cancer. Objectives: Due to the rare and limited number of studies in Iran, this study was designed and conducted to evaluate patients' clinical characteristics and treatment management with IGM. Methods: In this cross-sectional and retrospective descriptive-analytic study, we studied the medical records of 293 patients with IGM, such as demographic information, characteristics of breast lesions, type of treatment, complications, and their outcome, which were recorded in the Cancer Research Centers of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU) from 2010 to 2019. The patients were contacted by telephone to visit clinically or collect additional information. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 24. Results: The mean age of patients was 39.21 (ST = 8.29) years. Breast involvement in 236 cases (80.5%) was unilateral, and in 50 cases (17.1%), the involvement was Pere pri-Areola. The most common type of treatment was conservative therapy (analgesia + drainage) (178 cases, 60.8%), which was the primary treatment in our study; 66 patients (22.5%) received antibiotic therapy + analgesia + drainage, and 41(14%) cases received corticosteroid in addition to this treatment. Totally, 132 cases (79.5%) were completely cured with the performed treatments, 17 cases (5.8%) had a recurrence of symptoms, and 14.7% of the patients were still receiving treatment. Recurrence after 1 year in patients who had a longer duration of disease (more than 12 months) was higher than in those who had a shorter period (less than 12 months) (15.3% vs. 5.1%, P = 0.004). Also, the highest recurrence rate was in the group receiving corticosteroids compared to the group receiving the usual treatment and usual treatment plus antibiotics. This relationship was statistically significant (22.0% vs. 9 % and 6.1%, respectively, P = 0.032). Complications (scar or breast skin color change) were significantly higher in patients without a pregnancy history than in patients who had pregnancy (50.0% vs. 22.8%, P = 0.030). Also, these complications were significantly higher in patients who had a longer duration of disease (more than 12 months) than in shorter periods of disease (less than 12 months) (31.4% vs. 17.3%, P = 0.005). Conclusions: The results of our study and its comparison with the results of other studies still emphasize the uncertainty of the etiology of IGM disease and its treatment, but to some extent, our study has shown that conservative treatment (drainage with analgesic drugs) is one of the best treatment options. Also, corticosteroid therapy is associated with a higher recurrence rate, but in some cases is necessary and recommended in many studies.

Autoimmune rheumatic diseases associated with granulomatous mastitis

Granulomatous mastitis (GM) is a benign, inflammatory condition of the breast that mainly affects women of reproductive age. Although its pathogenesis remains unknown, previous studies revealed an association between autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) and GM in a subset of patients implicating immune-mediated mechanisms. The aim of this narrative review was to identify and describe the ARDs associated with GM to shed further light on disease pathogenesis. We conducted a comprehensive literature search of patients presenting with GM and coexisting ARDs using electronic databases. An association between GM and various ARDs has been reported, including sarcoidosis, systematic lupus erythematosus, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis, familial Mediterranean fever, ankylosing spondylitis, Sjogren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and erythema nodosum, with the most common being granulomatous mastitis-erythema nodosum-arthritis syndrome (GMENA), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's) and sarcoidosis. In addition, clinical characteristics, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches were recorded. Further research is warranted to better understand the association between GM and ARDs and raise awareness amongst rheumatologists.

Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis as an Unusual Cause of Erythema Nodosum in a Malagasy Woman

Introduction

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a rare chronic inflammatory disease. Neoplastic and infectious etiologies must be ruled out. IGM is a diagnostic challenge for countries with high tuberculosis endemicity like Madagascar since it may clinically and radiologically mimic breast tuberculosis. We report a case of IGM associated with erythema nodosum in a Malagasy.

Case Report

A 29-year-old primiparous woman came to a dermatological consultation for typical erythema nodosum lesions that appeared one month after a breast swelling. She had no particular medical history. Examination revealed typical erythema nodosum lesions on the legs, voluminous tender mass in the right breast. Bacteriological samples and tuberculosis test were negative. Imaging showed mastitis on the right breast with no evidence of malignancy. Histology revealed a non-caseating granulomas on the lobule of the right breast. As part of an etiological work-up, COVID-19 serology was performed with a positive IgG antibody. The diagnosis of IGM associated with erythema nodosum was evocated. The evolution was favorable under systemic corticosteroid therapy.

Discussion

The cause of this uncommon lesion remains obscure. The extramammary localizations such as erythema nodosum and arthralgia suggest an autoimmune origin. This pathogenesis is also reinforced by a good response to systemic immunosuppression. In our patient, the etiological assessment of the mastitis revealed a chronic infection with SARS-CoV-2. Histopathology is the gold standard for the IGM diagnosis which demonstrates a lobulocentric granulomas without caseous necrosis. Oral corticosteroid therapy is the initial choice of treatment.

Conclusion

Now, with several cases of concomitant IGM and EN reported, dermatologists should be aware that erythema nodosum can be one of the presenting signs of IGM, since the two conditions appear to be associated. The particularity of our case lies in the incidental discovery of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Is a chronic granulomatous disease associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, a coincidence?

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis: introducing a diagnostic algorithm based on 5 years of follow-up of 152 cases from Turkey and a review of the literature

PURPOSE

The goals of this study were to report our clinical experience in a single center at a high-volume tertiary university hospital in Istanbul and to introduce a diagnostic algorithm based on a 5-year follow-up of 152 women with biopsy-proven idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM). IGM is an uncommon, non-malignant, chronic inflammatory disease of the mammary gland with an unknown etiology. The symptoms, clinical presentation, and radiologic findings of IGM may resemble carcinomas. To our knowledge, this study comprises the largest series of IGM, especially with a 5-year follow-up, yet reported in the English literature.

METHODS

The present study reported our single-center clinical experience at a tertiary university hospital in Istanbul, Turkey, and introduced a diagnostic algorithm using our treatment protocol based on a 5-year follow-up of 152 women with biopsy-proven IGM. Our database of 10 years' experience containing over 700 patients with IGM was evaluated. However, to assess recurrence and resistance to treatment, only the 152 patients with a long follow-up period of 5 years were included in the study group. The analysis included 152 women with biopsy-proven IGM who were treated between January 2009 and March 2014. The clinical data of the presentation, histopathology, and treatment modalities were analyzed by reviewing the medical records.

RESULTS

Of the 152 patients diagnosed with granulomatous mastitis, 32 (21%) recovered by expectant management, while 14 (9%) responded to antibiotics, 65 (43%) received corticosteroids, 20 (13%) had antituberculosis medication, 16 (11%) underwent excision, and 5 (3%) responded to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Fifty-one patients (33%) had recurrence; of these, 30 achieved a cure with second-line treatment, 16 underwent excision, and 5 achieved a cure with observation.

CONCLUSION

IGM is a rare benign breast disorder, and clinicians need a high index of suspicion to diagnose it, as IGM can be mistaken for breast cancer. Unlike periductal mastitis, IGM does not evolve secondary to nicotine addiction and is typically seen in women of childbearing age with a recent history of pregnancy and lactation. The diagnosis can be challenging, and an evaluation with a multidisciplinary team is necessary. There is no consensus concerning the definitive treatment approach. We suggested a diagnostic algorithm in the present study, using our treatment protocol based on the 5 years' follow-up of 152 women.

Corticosteroids in idiopathic granulomatous mastitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is an inflammatory disease of the breasts with an unknown etiology. Corticosteroids are one the primary options for treating this disease, but the results of previous studies concerning their efficacy have been controversial. We, therefore, decided to assess the effectiveness of corticosteroids on IGM using a systematic review and meta-analysis. We conducted a systematic search using MeSH terms and all relevant keywords in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science until May 21, 2019. Data were analyzed using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) V.2 software program and presented as the event rate, risk ratio (RR) and risk difference (RD). Twelve studies including 559 IGM patients were entered into the meta-analysis. Our analysis showed that the RR and RD of recurrence in the steroid-only group compared with the surgery-only group were 2.99 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.28-31.33) and 0.14 (95% CI - 0.01-0.30), respectively, showing no statistical significance. The meta-analysis of the steroid-only group and steroid + surgery group showed that the RR of recurrence was 6.13 (95% CI 0.41-81.62) with no significance. However, the meta-analysis of the RD showed that the risk of recurrence in the steroid group was significantly higher than that in the steroids + surgery group (RD: 0.28, 95% CI 0.11-0.44). This meta-analysis showed that managing IGM with only steroids may be less effective than the combination of steroids and surgery. This combination approach may result in a lower rate of recurrence and side effects in these patients.

Post-operative Ayurvedic management of non-healing idiopathic granulomatous mastitis - A case report

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the breast which may present as painful, unilateral, discrete, breast masses with a tendency to recur. The pathogenesis is still unclear. In Ayurvedic literature, clinical features similar to IGM is seen in Stanavidradhi (breast abscess). We present the case of a 25-year old uniparous woman who had previously undergone excision biopsy for a breast lump and was diagnosed with IGM by histopathology examination. After one month, she developed pain, redness, and swelling at the operated site. She was treated for two months with corticosteroids and antibiotics, but the symptoms did not subside. After Ayurvedic treatment, the condition started to respond in a week and was completely resolved within three months. She was followed-up with medicines for three months and without medicines for another six months during which period, no recurrence was seen. The non-healing nature and high rate of recurrence of IGM necessitates prolonged treatment with steroids and antibiotics that have long-lasting adverse effects. In this context, Ayurveda may be able to offer an effective option with significantly fewer adverse effects, not only in the management of abscess and sinus, but also in prevention of recurrence.

Low-Dose Methotrexate Use in Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis: An Alternative Treatment Method

Background

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a rare, recurrent and progressive breast disease with an unknown etiology. Patients with IGM will probably face stressful, time-consuming treatment procedures with side effects due to medications. There are different treatment modalities in clinical use including medical and surgical interventions.

Objective

The aim of this study was to present the results of using the combination therapy of low-dose methotrexate (MTX) and steroid in IGM.

Methods

Seventeen patients diagnosed with IGM and treated with MTX were included into the study. Low-dose MTX at 5 mg/week and 8 mg/day prednisone were given for 2-3 months.

Results

After 2-3 months of treatment, 10 patients exhibited (58.5%) complete, 3 patients (17.6%) partial recovery, and no response to the treatment process was observed in 4 patients (23.5%). No side effects of MTX and recurrent events were noted in any of the patients.

Conclusion

Low-dose MTX and prednisone treatment for IGM patients, who did not respond to steroids alone, should be considered as an alternative treatment method instead of surgical intervention.

Oncoplastic breast surgery to treat recurrent granulomatous abscess: A new approach

Introduction and importance

Granulomatous mastitis is a rare chronic and benign inflammatory breast disease with challenging diagnosis and management. No commonly recognized recommendations are established. Despite of medical and surgical approaches, relapse rate remains high.

Case presentation

A 43-year-old patient with a history of granulomatous mastitis presented recurrent breast abscess associated with skin fistula. She underwent Racquet mammoplasty procedure inspired from oncoplastic techniques. Medical and cosmetic outcomes were satisfactory.

Clinical discussion

Granulomatous mastitis is challenging to diagnose and can be confused with inflammatory breast malignancies. It's associated with high relapse rate. Management of granulomatous mastitis is complex. Its treatment varies from medical management based on steroid therapy and immunosuppressants to surgical approach. In case of recurrent breast abscess, surgical techniques inspired from oncoplastic breast surgery, can be used to improve cosmetic outcome.

Conclusion

Oncoplastic surgical technic may be considered as an efficient procedure to manage recurrent breast granulomatous abscess.

•

Granulomatous mastitis is a rare challenging condition.

•

Up to now, there isn’t a commonly recommended therapeutic strategy.

•

Relapse rate is high with an unsatisfactory cosmetic outcome.

•

Oncoplastic surgery may provide cosmetic result with low relapse rate.

Treatment Results of Intralesional Steroid Injection and Topical Steroid Administration in Pregnant Women with Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis

Objective

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is an inflammatory and chronic benign breast disease that has proven difficult to diagnose and treat. Since most treatment modalities cannot be used in pregnant patients, the choice of treatment is more difficult and the need for surgery is more pressing. In this first and innovative study, we assess the results of local corticosteroid therapy of IGM in pregnant women.

Materials and Methods

Pregnant women with IGM were evaluated between June 2017 and May 2019. The six pregnant women were treated using intralesional steroid injections and topical steroid administration. The treatment response was evaluated, both clinically and radiologically, at the end of 2 weeks and once more at the end of 1 month.

Results

The median patient age was 26 years. The mean duration of complaints was 4.3 months. The median number of children was 2, and the mean breastfeeding time was 41 months. The predominant complaints at onset were a breast mass or local pain and inflammation in four (66.7%) patients and a breast mass with pain and without signs of local skin inflammation in two (33.3%) patients. Diagnosis was made using a tru-cut biopsy in two patients, and with an incisional biopsy in four patients who had abscess drainage and fistulation to the skin. Five (83.3%) patients achieved a complete response, and one (16.7%) patient responded only partially after the first course of treatment. A second course of treatment was given to the patient with partial response. All patients achieved complete response at the end of the second course of treatment. The mean follow-up time was 19.5 months. During the follow-up period, one patient experienced a recurrence at 4 months after giving birth, and she then received a third course of treatment. Topical and systemic side effects of the corticosteroids were not observed in any patient.

Conclusion

While the state of pregnancy generally precludes the use of most drugs, the use of local corticosteroid in the treatment of IGM is effective in terms of treatment response, treatment duration, need for surgery, and reduced recurrence and side effects.

An update on granulomatous mastitis: a rare and complex condition

Granulomatous mastitis is a rare inflammatory condition of the breast affecting women of child-bearing age. The disease is characterised by chronic and relapsing inflammation, resulting in scarring and discharging sinuses. Granulomatous mastitis is considered to be idiopathic and the pathogenesis is poorly understood. An amplified immune response has been proposed as a likely cause and there is evidence linking Corynebacterium to some cases of granulomatous mastitis. The presentation is similar to bacterial mastitis or abscess and antibiotics are commonly commenced empirically. The cornerstone of diagnosis is histopathological evaluation on core biopsy; an index of suspicion based on demographic assessment can avoid delays in diagnosis. Management is difficult and there is no consensus on best treatment. Various treatment regimens are described, with high relapse rates relating to the nature of the condition. Watchful waiting is appropriate for mild presentations and steroids are the mainstay of treatment for more severe cases. This article reviews the emerging evidence on granulomatous mastitis and describes an updated approach to management.

A rheumatologic approach to granulomatous mastitis: A case series and review of the literature

AIM

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is an enigmatic inflammatory breast disorder. IGM responds to immunomodulatory treatment and may be associated with systemic manifestations such as arthritis and erythema nodosum. These patients are increasingly referred to rheumatologists for management, but IGM is rarely discussed in the rheumatology literature. The objective of this report is to familiarize rheumatologists with the treatment and systemic manifestations of IGM. We report here a case series of IGM at our institution, and a literature review of IGM treated with methotrexate (MTX).

METHOD

Patients with IGM at our institution were identified and described using a retrospective chart review. A literature review of PubMed and Google Scholar identified studies of IGM patients treated with MTX.

RESULTS

We identified 28 IGM patients at our institution. Inflammatory arthritis/arthralgia were present in four patients (14%), and five patients (18%) had erythema nodosum. Patients treated with MTX had the highest rates of relapse-free remission; relapse-free remission occurred in four of the five (80%) MTX-treated patients, compared with 5 of 12 (42%) patients treated with steroids alone, and two or three (66%) patients treated with steroids and surgery. In the literature review, 116 patients treated with MTX were identified, and the rate of relapse-free remission ranged from 58% to 100%. Arthritis/arthralgia and erythema nodosum were more common at our institution than reported in the literature.

CONCLUSION

Methotrexate is a promising treatment for IGM. Arthritis/arthralgias and erythema nodosum may be under-recognized when IGM patients are managed outside rheumatology. Prospective studies are needed to characterize clinical features and optimum treatment of IGM.

Mastitis in Autoimmune Diseases: Review of the Literature, Diagnostic Pathway, and Pathophysiological Key Players

Mastitis frequently affects women of childbearing age. Of all the pathological breast conditions requiring specific management, autoimmune mastitis is in the third position after infection and breast cancer. The aim of this literature review was to make a comprehensive description of autoimmune diseases targeting the mammary gland. Four main histological patterns of autoimmune mastitis are described: (i) lymphocytic infiltrates; (ii) ductal ectasia; (iii) granulomatous mastitis; and (iv) vasculitis. Our literature search found that all types of autoimmune disease may target the mammary gland: organ-specific diseases (diabetes, thyroiditis); connective tissue diseases (such as systemic erythematosus lupus or Sjögren’s syndrome); vasculitides (granulomatosis with polyangiitis, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, giant cell arteritis, polyarteritis nodosa, Behçet’s disease); granulomatous diseases (sarcoidosis, Crohn’s disease); and IgG4-related disease. Cases of breast-specific autoimmune diseases have also been reported, including idiopathic granulomatous mastitis. These breast-limited inflammatory diseases are sometimes the first symptom of a systemic autoimmune disease. Although autoimmune mastitis is rare, it is probably underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Early diagnosis may allow us to detect systemic diseases at an earlier stage, which could help to initiate a prompt, appropriate therapeutic strategy. In case of suspected autoimmune mastitis, we hereby propose a diagnostic pathway and discuss the potential pathophysiological pathways leading to autoimmune breast damage.

Methotrexate in the Treatment of Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis

Objective.

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a disfiguring inflammatory breast disease without effective treatment. We report the largest IGM cohort treated with methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy.

Methods.

Chart review was performed on patients evaluated by the Stanford Immunology and Rheumatology Clinic, with histopathologically established IGM treated with MTX, and at least 1 followup appointment.

Results.

Nineteen female patients with a mean age of 33.5 years were identified. Most failed treatment with antibiotics, prednisone, and surgical intervention. By 15 months of treatment with MTX, 94% had disease improvement and 75% achieved disease remission.

Conclusion.

MTX monotherapy is an effective treatment for IGM.

Diagnostic techniques and multidisciplinary approach in idiopathic granulomatous mastitis: a revision of the literature

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a chronic benign inflammatory disease of the breast that may mimic breast cancer. It is most common in parous young fertile women, although it can occur in nulliparous women and in men. IGM is an idiopathic disease due to the influence of some environmental factors in genetically predisposed subjects. Several pathogenic hypothesis have been proposed in the last years (autoimmune, hormonal, infective genesis). IGM presents as a painful palpable mass located in one of the two udders. The skin is usually normal but could present signs of inflammation with or without lymph nodes involvement. Ultrasonography, mammography, magnetic resonance can be diagnosed an IGM, but pathognomonic radiological signs has not yet reported in literature. Biopsy findings show granulomatous lesion centered on the breast lobule, as in granulomatous mastitis induced by tuberculosis or sarcoidosis. The aim of this review of literature is to verify the development of new advanced diagnostic techniques and multidisciplinary approach for this condition. In the last years innovative approaches have modified IGM diagnosis and therapy, avoiding surgery in most of cases, introducing a more conservative medical approach based on recent etiopathological hypothesis. (www.actabiomedica.it)

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis: a 10-year study from a multicentre clinical database

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is an uncommon, chronic inflammatory breast disease with elusive aetiology, simulating malignancy clinically and radiologically. Here we present our 10-year review on a region-wide multicentre IGM database. A retrospective study was performed on a prospectively maintained database from three University affiliated hospitals in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China. All patients with biopsy proven IGM were included while patients with positive culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were excluded. Disease recurrence rate and its prognosticators were evaluated. A total of 102 patients were included between January 2007 and December 2017. Median age was 33 years (range 20-54). Most patients presented with painful inflammatory mass (n = 57); median size at presentation was 37 mm (6-92 mm). Sixty-three patients had bacterial culture performed on the pus sample: eight patients had Corynebacterium kroppenstedtii while four had Corynebacterium species not otherwise specified. Seventy-seven (75.5%) patients received conservative treatment with oral corticosteroid (±antibiotics) and drainage only, while 25 (24.5%) patients received breast lump excision after initial medical treatment. Twelve (11.8%) patients developed recurrence after a median follow-up interval of 14 months (4-51 months). Univariate analysis revealed that abscess on presentation, history of smoking, and presence of C. kroppenstedtii were significant prognosticators for recurrence. Subsequent multivariate analysis with logistic regression revealed cigarette smoking and isolation of C. kroppenstedtii as independent risk factors for disease recurrence (p < 0.05). In conclusion, IGM is uncommon with a recurrence rate of 12%, especially in patients with history of smoking and isolation of C. kroppenstedtii.

Is idiopathic granulomatous mastitis a surgical disease? The jury is still out

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM), is a rare entity of chronic inflammatory disorder of the breast of unknown etiology. Very few cases have been described so far, almost exclusively in women. Here we describe a case of IGM in a 53-year-old man presented with a right breast mass, progressively enlarging during the last 6 months. Due to the findings of clinical examination and CT-scan, the suspicion for a potentially malignant lesion was given and the decision for surgical resection was made. Microscopic analysis of the specimen showed non-caseating granulomas around mammary lobules, findings compatible with IGM. The patient is recurrence-free at 18-month follow-up. IGM is a rare benign inflammatory breast disease, usually seen in females of reproductive age. Establishing a diagnosis can be challenging for a surgeon and requires a high index of suspicion as most patients are initially misdiagnosed by their primary care physicians. Steroids and immunosuppressive drugs are considered as fundamental treatment modalities but they are correlated with increased rates of disease response and recurrence. On the contrary, surgical resection demonstrated significantly superior results compared to steroid-alone treatment in terms of recurrence and post-treatment recovery.

Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis: Overcoming this Important Clinical Challenge

The aim of this study was to determine possible risk factors for recurrence development in patients with idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM). Demographic, clinical, radiologic, and histopathologic characteristics of 34 consecutive patients with IGM were retrospectively reviewed. Also, 32 patients who were informed about recurrence status were divided into non-recurrent (n = 27) and recurrent (n = 5) groups. Both groups were compared for demographic and clinical parameters. This study included 34 female patients with IGM aged between 26 and 70 years (median: 38 years). During the follow-up period, no recurrence occurred in 27 patients whereas recurrence developed in 5 patients. No significant difference was found between the groups with respect to age, lesion size, breast-feeding, number of child, marital status, use of oral contraceptive, familial or personal tuberculosis history, PPD test, smoking, lesion side, lesion location on the breast, and treatment choice. The diagnostic tools of the IGM as follows: tru-cut (n = 18); incisional (n = 6); tru-cut + incisional (n = 5); tru-cut + excisional (n = 2); tru-cut + FNAB (n = 1); FNAB + excisional (n = 1) and FNAB (n = 1). Treatment options were as follow: antibiotics + drainage (n = 10); antibiotics + drainage + corticosteroid (n = 9); wait and watch (n = 6); corticosteroid (n = 3); antibiotics + antituberculous (n = 1); antituberculous (n = 1); antibiotics + breast conserving surgery + chemotherapy (n = 1); modified radical mastectomy + chemotherapy + radiotherapy (n = 1); and no available (n = 2). This study shows that no demographic and clinical data contributes to the development of recurrence disease. To give a strong message, this study should be supported by other high volume and prospective studies.

Cystic Neutrophilic Granulomatous Mastitis: Association With Gram-Positive Bacilli and Corynebacterium

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether cystic neutrophilic granulomatous mastitis (CNGM) can be associated with Gram-positive bacilli and Corynebacterium

METHODS

We reviewed our experience with 35 granulomatous mastitis patients over a 10-year period, including histologic pattern, Gram stain and other microbiologic data, clinical presentation, treatment and outcome.

RESULTS

Biopsies from 19 patients demonstrated CNGM, while 16 patients had other patterns of granulomatous mastitis. Gram-positive organisms were seen within microcystic spaces in 16/19 CNGM, but 0/16 non-CNGM patients (P = .000). Culture or molecular studies demonstrated Corynebacterium species in three, all CNGM. Patients with CNGM were more likely to be younger, of Hispanic ethnicity, and born outside of the United States. Granulomatous mastitis resolved after a protracted course with widely variable treatment (antibiotics, surgery, steroids).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data further support CNGM as an infectious disease; further study of Corynebacterium-directed therapy in CNGM is needed.