Ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted excision for idiopathic granulomatous mastitis at the abscess stage

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a rare inflammatory disease of the breast with clinical features that are often confused with those of breast cancer leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness and cosmetic results of drainage surgery using ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted excision (VAE) for the treatment of IGM at the abscess stage.

The time of recovery, cases of further surgical intervention, and cosmetic results were retrospectively collected and analyzed from patients who underwent drainage with VAE or conventional drainage between October 2017 and August 2021.

A total of 65 patients diagnosed with IGM at the abscess stage who underwent drainage surgery with VAE or conventional drainage surgery were enrolled. Overall, 38 (58.5%) underwent conventional drainage surgery and 27 (41.5%) underwent drainage with VAE. We found that patients who underwent VAE recovered much faster than those who underwent traditional drainage surgery (30.1 vs. 48.0 days). Nine (33.3%) patients in the VAE group required further surgical intervention after drainage, whereas 33 (86.8%) patients in the control group underwent another surgery to resect residual lesions. Additionally, patients in the VAE group were more satisfied with the breast appearance, mainly due to less influence of the scars and better symmetry of their breasts.

Compared with conventional drainage surgery, drainage surgery using VAE for IGM patients at the abscess stage improved therapeutic and cosmetic outcomes. Furthermore, postoperative management of IGM is crucial.