The therapeutic dilemma of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis

ABSTRACT Introduction: Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a rare, benign, chronic breast condition that can cause repeated abscesses or mass formation in bilateral breasts. The condition can severely impact the quality of life of affected women. This study aims to evaluate effective treatmen...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Veröffentlicht in:Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore Singapore, 2021-08, Vol.50 (8), p.598-605
Hauptverfasser: Tang, Ee Ling Serene, Ho, Chi Shern Bernard, Chan, Patrick Mun Yew, Chen, Juliana Jia Chuan, Goh, Mui Heng, Tan, Ern Yu
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
Online-Zugang:Volltext
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:ABSTRACT Introduction: Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a rare, benign, chronic breast condition that can cause repeated abscesses or mass formation in bilateral breasts. The condition can severely impact the quality of life of affected women. This study aims to evaluate effective treatment modalities, as well as understand the demographics and clinical presentation of patients with IGM. Methods: An 11-year retrospective review was performed of patients diagnosed with IGM from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2018 at a tertiary breast unit. Results: A total of 77 patients were included in the study. The median age at presentation was 36 years old. IGM presented most commonly as a breast lump (98.1%). The median number of flares was 2 (1–12). Of the 77 patients, 68.8% (53) were treated with antibiotics, 50.6% (39) with steroids, and 44.2% (34) underwent surgery, in the course of their IGM treatment. Forty-five (59.2%) of the 76 patients with IGM required a multimodal treatment approach to achieve remission. There was no significant difference in the number of flares no matter the initial treatment (P=0.411), or subsequent treatment modality (P=0.343). Smokers had 10 times greater odds of having a “high flare” of IGM compared to those who did not smoke (P=0.031, odds ratio 10.444, 95% confidence interval 1.092–99.859). Conclusion: IGM is a clinical diagnosis. It is a rare, relapsing breast inflammatory condition that affects young females with no superior treatment modality. Smoking is associated with higher number of flares of IGM and should be discouraged in IGM patients Keywords: Breast inflammation, chronic mastitis, idiopathic granulomatous mastitis, recurrent breast abscess
ISSN:0304-4602
0304-4602
DOI:10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.2020645