Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is an uncommon benign disorder of the breast that can mimic two frequent breast disorders, breast carcinoma and breast abscess. In this report, we present two patients seen in a community teaching hospital over a period of one year, diagnosed with IGM after histological evaluation. One patient responded well to immunosuppressive therapy, but the second patient required bilateral mastectomy due to the severe and recurrent nature of the disease. IGM is a disorder that should be considered in the evaluation of women who present with painful breast disease. We discuss the diagnosis, clinical presentation and management of IGM.