A Pictorial Review on Mastitis: Clinical Aspects, Imaging Features and Complications

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Oncology
• Pathology

Background:

• Breast mastitis is a common clinical condition requiring accurate diagnosis.
• Differentiating mastitis from other breast pathologies, including cancer, is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide clinicians and radiologists with a comprehensive overview of mastitis.
• To focus on clinical presentation, etiology, imaging findings, complications, and differential diagnosis tools.

Main Methods:

• A literature search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar for articles published between 2002 and 2025.
• Keywords included "mastitis," "breast infections," "lactational mastitis," "non lactational mastitis," and "mastitis imaging."
• Eligible studies were selected to cover the spectrum of mastitis, divided into lactational and non-lactational forms.

Main Results:

• The review covers various mastitis forms, including periductal and idiopathic granulomatous mastitis.
• Imaging appearances across ultrasound, mammography, and MRI are discussed.
• Differential diagnosis strategies between mastitis, breast cancer, and other inflammatory conditions are provided.

Conclusions:

• Breast mastitis poses a diagnostic challenge for radiologists and clinicians.
• Familiarity with mastitis spectrum and imaging is essential for correct differential diagnosis.
• Further research is needed for rarer mastitis subtypes.