ObjectiveTo summarize the clinical manifestations and treatment of plasma cell mastitis. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the diagnosis and treatment of 53 patients with plasma cell mastitis admitted into the hospital between January 2008 and December 2014. ResultsTwelve patients with nipple discharge underwent mammary gland segment resection in which the complete discharging tube system and part of the normal gland were resected. In the 26 patients with inflammatory masses, 12 had acute inflammation with mass formation who were treated with abscess incision drainage and silver alginate wound dressing before second-stage lesion resection. Fourteen patients with only local swelling, tenderness and no abscess formation underwent lesion resection after the abscesses were reduced by combined traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and western medical treatment. Seven patients with painless mass all had abscesses in the areola area, among whom 5 had complete inflammatory capsule and they underwent lumpectomy. Two patients had cheese-like tissue beside the abscess, and they underwent segmental resection. In the 8 patients with chronic fistula, one at the age of 51 was cured by simple mastectomy after recurrence, and the other 7 underwent lesion resection after combined TCM and western medical treatment. All the 53 patients were diagnosed to have plasma cell mastitis by surgical biopsy, and they were all cured with no recurrence 6 months after surgery. Conclusions Plasma cell mastitis is usually misdiagnosed because of its diversified clinical manifestations. For patients whose lesion is large and not confined, it's better for them to receive combined TCM and western medical treatment. Surgical time and approach should be chosen appropriately. Surgical lesion resection is the only method for complete treatment in patients with plasma cell mastitis.