[2] When the inflammation is complicated by necrosis and secondary bacterial infection, breast abscesses may form.
[2] Subareolar abscess, also called Zuska's disease (only nonpuerperal case), is a frequently aseptic inflammation and has been associated with squamous metaplasia of the lactiferous ducts.
[6] There is a high statistical correlation of nonpuerperal breast abscess with diabetes mellitus (DM).
[7][8] Characteristic for granulomatous mastitis are multinucleated giant cells and epithelioid histiocytes around lobules.
Because it is so rare it may be sometimes confused with comedo carcinoma of the breast although the conditions appear to be completely unrelated.