Di Zhao,1,2 Dongxiao Zhang,1 Yifei Zeng,1,2 Na Fu,1 Xiaolong Xu1 

1Department of Galactophore, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence: Dongxiao Zhang, Department of Galactophore, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, No. 23, Art Museum Back Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 13811077684, Email Tzdx_thinking@126.com

Background: Non-lactational Mastitis of Accessory Breast (NLM-AB) is a rare condition with limited research, leading to diagnostic challenges. Its clinical and demographic characteristics are poorly defined, and it is often confused with non-lactational mastitis (NLM), hindering effective diagnosis and treatment.
Objective: This study aims to clarify the features of NLM-AB, distinguish it from NLM, and address key knowledge gaps to improve clinical diagnosis and patient management.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 31 NLM-AB patients treated at Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2014 to September 2024. A 1:1 matched case-control study was conducted, comparing NLM-AB (case group) with 31 NLM patients (control group).
Results: NLM-AB patients had a mean age of 36.68 ± 7.17 years and BMI of 23.10 ± 3.52. Most were married (83.87%) and had given birth (58.06%). All had axillary masses, with 85.19% showing skin changes. Statistically significant differences were found in marital status, reproductive history, breastfeeding duration, tumor size, and nipple retraction (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in nipple discharge, ulcer occurrence, or prolactin levels (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: This study addresses a key clinical gap by identifying distinguishing features of NLM-AB, such as consistent axillary masses without nipple retraction and associations with reproductive history. These findings can directly support clinicians in early recognition and differential diagnosis of NLM-AB, avoiding unnecessary interventions targeting primary breast tissue. Incorporating these patient characteristics into diagnostic pathways may reduce misdiagnosis rates and guide more tailored treatment strategies, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Keywords: non-lactational mastitis, non-lactational mastitis of accessory breast, clinical characteristics, retrospective analysis, case series study