Granulomatous mastitis is a chronic inflammatory breast disease with an enigmatic clinical presentation that can delay diagnosis and perpetuate ineffective treatments. We report our experience with the diagnosis and management of eighteen cases of granulomatous mastitis in the setting of an urban public hospital. The patients were identified after a retrospective review of pathology and surgery databases. Demographic, clinical, radiographic, histopathological data and treatment responses were reviewed. Out of a total of 18 patients, 8 patients were noted to be from Mexico. The mean age at presentation was 35 years and 11 of the 18 patients reported a pregnancy in the last four years. Most cases were unsuccessfully managed as bacterial breast infections initially; definitive treatment involved surgical excision and steroids. A complete symptomatic and radiographic resolution was documented in 8 of the 18 patients. Despite posing a challenge for the unsuspecting physician, an early diagnosis of granulomatous mastitis improves patient outcomes.
Keywords: benign; breast; inflammation.