Evaluation of therapeutic mammoplasty techniques in the surgical management of female patients with idiopathic granulomatous mastitis with mild to moderate inflammatory symptoms in terms of recurrence and patients' satisfaction.

Abstract

Although idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) affects young females, its surgical management usually leads to disfigurement of the breasts. To assess the use of therapeutic mammoplasty techniques for management of IGM in terms of recurrence and postoperative patients' satisfaction. This prospective clinical study included thirteen patients who were diagnosed histologically as IGM. Patients with moderate to large breasts, who had a breast mass between 20-50% of the breast size with failed medical treatment or intolerability to steroids were subjected to therapeutic mammoplasty techniques. Only patients with large breasts were offered contra-lateral reduction mammoplasty to resume symmetry and achieve better aesthetic results. Early postoperative bleeding that was encountered in one patient (7.7%) was the only serious postoperative complication. Patient was re-operated and the bleeder was secured. Recurrence occurred in 2 patients (15.4%) at 16 and 24 months after the operation. Kyungpook National University Hospital (KNUH) breast reconstruction satisfaction questionnaire used to assess patients' satisfaction 6 months after the operation and revealed that 10 patients (76.9%) were satisfied after the operation. Using therapeutic mammoplasty techniques in surgical management of IGM in moderate to large breasts seems justifiable with good results regarding recurrence and postoperative patients' satisfaction.