Is it tuberculosis mastitis or granulomatous mastitis? A thirteen-year experience at a university hospital

Granulomatous mastitis (GM) is a rare inflammatory disease of the breast. Tuberculosis mastitis (TM), one of the causes of GM, is a rare form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. The clinical, radiological, and histopathological findings of TM and GM are similar, and sometimes it is difficult to make a distinction between these disease states. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical and radiological features, diagnostic techniques, treatment modalities and treatment outcomes of the patients with GM and TM.

The data of the patients with confirmed GM by histopathologic examination of biopsy specimens between 2007 and 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic features, main complaints, physical findings, radiological and laboratory data, treatment modalities, and treatment outcomes were recorded.

Sixty-eight GM patients with a mean age of 35.8 (18-63) years were evaluated. The patients had a mass lesion, pain, ulceration,and abscess in their breasts. All of the cases were female. Ultrasonographic examinations were performed on 62 cases. Abscess and/or sinus tract formation was detected in 34, heterogeneous hypoechoic mass in 15, heterogeneous parenchyma or parenchymal edema in 15, axillary lymphadenopathy in 18 and cysts in 13 patients. A total of 10 patients were lost to follow-up. Twenty-six patients underwent surgery for their breast lesions or had antibiotherapy (n = 13) or corticosteroid therapy (n = 7). Eleven (16.1%) patients were diagnosed with TM. These patients were evaluated by clinical examination, chest radiography, and tuberculin skin test. Acid-fast bacilli (AFB) staining and culture were negative in all cases. The diagnosis of TM was based on histopathological evaluation results. Eight of the 11 patients achieved complete remission with antituberculosis treatment.

The etiological diagnosis of GM must be based on a multidisciplinary approach. Tuberculosis mastitis should become a part of differential diagnosis of breast diseases in populations with high incidence of tuberculosis.