In mastitis (synonyms: Mammary gland abscess; Mammary gland inflammation; Mastadenitis; Puerperal mastitis; Mastitis lactantium; Mastitis nonpuerperalis; Mastitis puerperalis; Congestive mastitis; ICD-10-GM O91.-: Infections of the mammary gland associated with gestation; N61: Inflammatory diseases of the mammary gland) is an acute inflammation of the mammary gland (Greek: mastos).
According to the ICD-10-GM, the following forms of mastitis are distinguished:
- ICD-10-GM O91.- Infections of the mamma [mammary gland] associated with gestation (pregnancy).
- ICD-10-GM O91.0- Infection of the nipple associated with gestation.
- ICD-10-GM O91.1- Abscess (encapsulated collection of pus) of the breast associated with gestation
- ICD-10-GM O91.2- Nonpurulent mastitis associated with gestation.
- ICD-10-GM N61: Inflammatory diseases of the mamma [mammary gland]) is an acute inflammation of the mammary gland, including. Abscess (areola, mammary) (non-puerperal/ outside of pregnancy or the puerperium, acute, chronic), carbuncle (boil; deep and usually very painful suppuration of several adjacent hair follicles or the confluence of several adjacent boils) of the mammary, mastitis infectious (acute, subacute, non-puerperal).
Furthermore, mastitis is divided into:
- Mastitis puerperalis – inflammation of the mammary glands in the puerperium.
- Mastitis non-puerperalis – mastitis outside pregnancy or the puerperium.
Frequency peak: the maximum incidence of mastitis puerperalis is 2-3 weeks after delivery. More often affected are first-time mothers and women who have previously had mastitis. The maximum incidence of mastitis non-puerperalis is up to 40 years of age. 60% of patients are younger than 30 years. Another peak in incidence is found in the premenopausal period (about ten to fifteen years before menopause).
The prevalence (disease frequency) of mastitis puerperalis is approximately 1% of all women in childbirth. The prevalence of mastitis non-puerperalis is approximately 0.1-2% of all gynecologic patients.
Course and prognosis: A mild form of puerperal mastitis usually heals on its own. With adequate therapy, the symptoms quickly subside. Possible abscess formation may require surgical intervention. Mastitis non-puerperalis is often recurrent. It is not uncommon for fistula formation to occur. Note: In the differential diagnosis of mastitis, always consider inflammatory breast carcinoma (breast cancer with redness of the breast skin and swelling of the breast due to infiltration of the lymphatics) or Paget’s disease.