[Chronic granulomatous mastitis in the practice of pathologists].

The incidence of chronic mastitis increased 2.3-fold in 2000-2003. This mastitis was diagnosed as mammary carcinoma clinically, roentgenologically and macroscopically in 53.1% patients. Granulomatous component was present in 59.6% cases. On frozen sections it resembled infiltrating carcinoma. Mammary carcinoma was in 3 cases, mycosis and nocardia in 3, oleogranulomas in 23 cases, idiopathic granulomatous mastitis in 12 cases. Review of literature on granulomatous chronic mastitis imitating mammary carcinoma is presented.