Granulomatous mastitis

Abstract

Granulomatous mastitis is a benign breast disease of importance, because it clinically resembles breast carcinoma. It occurs in women of child-bearing age, and is diagnosed histopathologically by finding inflammatory changes with granuloma formation confined to the lobules of the breast. A case of bilateral granulomatous mastitis appearing as metachronous lesions is described. The possible cause of the disease is discussed. Cultures of the involved tissue failed to grow any causative organism. Detailed immunological studies appeared to exclude an immunological cause.