Results of 78 Patients with Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis Who Received Peroral Steroid Therapy: Our Clinical Experience

Abstract

Introduction:For approximately half a century, synthetic steroids have been the most commonly used medical treatment for idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM). We present the outcomes of patients who experienced relapse after systemic peroral steroid treatment (SPST) and achieved remission.Methods:This study included a total of 78 patients who were diagnosed with IGM and started on SPST from 2010 to 2020.Results:The mean age of the patients included in the study was 33.4±6.8 years (minimum-maximum: 19.0-53.0 years) and 94.9% of all patients were premenopausal. After the clinicalopathological diagnosis, while complete remission was achieved in 46.2% of the patients receiving SPST at the first session, 53.8% showed resistance to therapy and/or had a relapse. In the group of patients who experienced relapse, the rate of bilateral disease, abscess drainage, and secondary side effects of SPST were significantly higher (p<0.05). Of the patients who showed resistance to treatment and/or experienced relapse, 39.7% (31 of 78) achieved remission after a combination of medical treatments and 14.1% (11 of 78) achieved remission after a combination of medical and surgical treatments.Conclusion:In patients with clinical-radiological presentation of abscess and/or bilateral disease before treatment, the disease tends to have an aggressive course and the frequency of secondary side effects of SPST is higher. These patients should be informed about the risk of relapse, side effects, and combined treatments, and they should be followed up more closely.

Keywords

• breast
• idiopathic granulomatous mastitis
• steroid
• recurrence
• risk factor