Racial Distribution and Management of Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis: A Single-Center Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a rare inflammatory breast disease with variable clinical manifestations. The purpose of this study was to compare racial patterns and management of IGM at a tertiary academic center in New York. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on all patients with a diagnosis of IGM from 2018 to 2024 at Stony Brook University Hospital. Results: Twenty cases of IGM were identified by chart review. Hispanic women were significantly overrepresented in women with IGM (P<0.0001). Hispanic women with IGM were significantly younger (35.1 ± 6.9 years) than white women (53.4 ± 12.2 years) at diagnosis (P=0.007) and more likely to present with clinical findings rather than radiologic findings (P=0.045). Most (71.4%) patients with no recurrence had been treated with prednisone (n=5). Conclusion: This study suggests that a racial predilection to IGM exists. Further studies are needed to develop the most effective treatment strategy for IGM.