Mastitis - Non-puerperal mastitis

Inflammation of the mammary gland not related to breastfeeding.

It may found in both women and men, although it appears more frequently in women who smoke, as well as women who have their immune system impaired (for example, due to a corticosteroids' treatment, HIV infection) or in diabetic women.

Although it is often caused by an infection, it may have a non-infectious cause, such as having undergone an invasive procedure like a mammary biopsy.

It manifests with local pain, heat and redness of an area of the breast, frequently close to the nipple. It can be associated to pus secretion through the nipple or fever.

The diagnosis is based off of a physical examination. Samples of the secretions can be taken to do a culture.

The triggering cause will be treated, for example with antibiotics, and the symptoms will be eased with regular anti-inflammatories and painkillers. A surgical intervention may be required in cases where a pus collection or abscess is present and/or in those with fistulas in which the pus collection connects with the skin.

In mastitis cases which do not improve with antibiotic treatment, it may be necessary to perform a biopsy to rule out some diseases that need a more specific treatment such as idiopathic granulomatous mastitis or inflammatory breast cancer. To avoid relapsing on a non-puerperal mastitis, it is recommendable to stop smoking.