Differential Diagnosis for Suspected Lactational Mastitis
- Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Lactational mastitis: This is the most likely diagnosis given the context of the question, as it is a common condition in lactating women characterized by inflammation of the breast tissue, often due to infection.
- Other Likely Diagnoses
- Breast engorgement: This condition can mimic mastitis, especially in the early stages of lactation, and is caused by the accumulation of milk in the breast.
- Plugged duct: A plugged duct can cause localized pain and inflammation, similar to mastitis, but is typically not infectious in nature.
- Breast abscess: While more severe than mastitis, a breast abscess can present with similar symptoms and is a possible complication of untreated mastitis.
- Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Inflammatory breast cancer: Although rare, this aggressive form of breast cancer can mimic the symptoms of mastitis, such as rapid onset of inflammation and pain, and is critical not to miss due to its poor prognosis if untreated.
- Necrotizing fasciitis: A severe and potentially life-threatening infection that can occur in the breast tissue, presenting with severe pain, swelling, and systemic symptoms.
- Rare Diagnoses
- Granulomatous mastitis: A rare inflammatory condition of the breast that can mimic mastitis but is characterized by granulomatous inflammation.
- Idiopathic granulomatous lobular mastitis: A rare condition with unknown etiology, characterized by granulomatous inflammation of the breast lobules.
- Sarcoidosis of the breast: A rare manifestation of systemic sarcoidosis, where granulomatous inflammation affects the breast tissue.