Application of Microwave Ablation Combined With Chai Hu Qing Gan Tang in the Treatment of Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of microwave ablation (MVA) combined with Chai Hu Qing Gan Tang (CHQGT) for idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM).

Methods: 480 patients were divided into the CHQGT combination group (CHQGT + MVA), corticosteroid combination group (glucocorticoids + MVA) and control group (glucocorticoids), with 160 cases in each group. Data on patient information, treatment effects, adverse effects and breast appearance were collected. Network pharmacology was used to identify the effective active ingredients and target information of CHQGT. The Gene Cards database was used to obtain the relevant targets of IGM, and the drug-component–common target relationship network was constructed using Cytoscape 3.9.1 software.

Results: All treatment groups showed significant differences in Visual Analog Scale score, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, mass size and the total effective rate (p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference in the rate of excellent breast shape between the three groups after treatment (p < 0.001), with the rate higher in the CHQGT liver decoction combined with glucocorticoids treatment group compared with the control group. There was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions and recurrence rate between the three groups within 2 years after treatment (p < 0.001), with the incidence of adverse reactions and recurrence rate higher in the control group than in the glucocorticoid combination and CHQGT decoction combination groups. Network pharmacology identified 199 active ingredients and 23 drug-disease targets of CHQGT. The molecular docking results showed that the main active components screened had good binding activity with their corresponding target proteins.

Conclusion: The combination of CHQGT and MWA is comparable in overall therapeutic efficacy to the combination of glucocorticoids and MWA. However, the CHQGT and MWA combination is superior in reducing lump size, alleviating patient pain and accelerating recovery.