Ali Pourzand
1, Mohammad Amin Mohammadzadeh Gharabaghi
2*, Ramin Azhough
11 Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
2 Young Researchers and Elite Club, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Granulomatous lobular mastitis is one of the rare inflammatory diseases of breast. It can mimics the breast malignancies in radiology and clinical evaluations. The etiology of GLM is unclear. This study was performed to determine diagnostic and management aspects of this disease. Materials and Methods: We reviewed records of 38 cases with GLM between November 2009 and September 2012.The records contains of physical examination, past medical history, familial history, drug history, lab and histopathologic findings. Results: The mean age of patients were 42 years.(range22-62).All of the patients had children. The patients had history of Oral contraceptive usage, antibiotic therapy, reduction and mammoplasty. They didn't have breast cancer in familial history. Some of them had dimpling and abscess, edema, inflammation, ulcer and firm mass in physical examination. In lab findings all cases had lymphocytosis. Size of masses were at the range of (2*2to8*6 CM). Locations of masses in most cases were in the superior lateral quadrant or central. Utrasonography showed an hypoechoic fibroglandular mass and collection. In pathologic findings Granulomatous reaction were seen. Conclusions: GLM is a rare chronic inflammatory lesion can mimics breast cancer in the absence of obvious etiology. Based on our findings, a history of child baring, lactation and OCP drugs usages plays important roles in the cause of GLM.The most common clinical sign in patients at first admission is found to be a painful mass in the breast. The information obtained from imaging was nonspecific. Imaging can't differentiate GLM from malignant or inflammatory conditions. Therefore, histopathological studies can differentiate these lesions from others. There is still no accepted strategy for management of GLM but corticosteroid therapy and surgery are using widingly.