Comparison of the Efficacy of Systemic Versus Local Steroid Treatment in Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis: A Cohort Study.

Introduction: Steroid therapy is known to be effective against granulomatous mastitis. We aimed to compare the efficacy of local versus systemic steroid administration in patients with idiopathic granulomatous mastitis.
Materials and Methods: This prospective cohort study included 58 patients who had either local (n = 42) or systemic (n = 16) treatment due to granulomatous mastitis between 2015 and 2019. Recurrence rates were determined as per ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging examinations and the rate of side effects was evaluated as per patient complaints and physical examinations at the end of a 2-year follow-up period.
Results: Median doses of 140 mg and 3810 mg were administered to the local and systemic group, respectively. Six (14.3%) patients in the local treatment group and 13 (81.3%) in the systemic treatment group had steroid-related side effects. The local treatment group had significantly fewer side effects than the systemic treatment group (P < 0.001). The recurrence rates were similar in both groups (P > 0.05).
Conclusions: Local steroid injection was as effective as systemic steroid therapy. Compared to systemic therapy, local steroid administration can be considered as a new therapeutic protocol with a lower dose and side effect rate.
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