[Non-puerperal mastitis. Etiology, clinical aspects and therapy].

Non-puerperal mastitis was diagnosed in 79 patients (aged 12-77 years) over the years 1974-1984. Malignant neoplasm was not present. Bacterial infection in the region of the areola was the most frequent finding (40%), followed by abacterial inflammation without involvement of the nipples (29%). The other cases, bacterial or nonbacterial, occurred at different sites. The histological picture or clinical features of an increased secretory activity of the mammary gland (galactorrhoea, mastodynia) in addition to the mastitis was noted in 54 women. Causative organisms were proven in 53% of cases: Staph. aureus (41%) and coagulase-negative staphylococcus (41%), or anaerobic organisms (11%). Physical measures, antibiotics and bromocriptine were used as treatment. At the onset of treatment abscesses were already present or developed in 34 instances. In 28 cases one to six recurrences set in after the end of the treatment period. In 22 patients treated with bromocriptine prophylactically there were only two recurrences. In the majority of patients an increased alveolar secretion was important in the pathogenesis of the bacterial or abacterial inflammation. Prolactin-lowering treatment seems reasonable by itself in cases of abacterial mastitis, or in combination with antibiotics in bacterial mastitis. Recurrences can be prevented by long-term lowering of the peripheral prolactin level.