This publication represents the second volume of the guidelines from the American Society of Breast Surgeons, the Society of Breast Imaging, and the College of American Pathology on the management of benign breast diseases and addresses infectious and inflammatory breast conditions during breastfeeding: lactational mastitis (LM), granulomatous mastitis (GM), and periductal mastitis with squamous metaplasia of the lactiferous ducts* (PDM-SMOLD).

A new recommendation has just been published on the management of breast inflammation during breastfeeding. While the Clinical Protocol #36 of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM, 2022) laid the foundations for a spectrum-based approach, the new 2026 surgical guidelines and the theoretical model of Dr. Pamela Douglas (2022) redefine the pathophysiological mechanisms and reference interventions. We present a synthesis for each of these three perspectives: