Breast abscess in lactating women: US-guided treatment

To retrospectively evaluate the use of ultrasonography (US)-guided treatment of breast abscesses in lactating women.

One hundred eight consecutive lactating women who were clinically suspected of having a breast abscess were examined with US. Abscesses depicted at US were treated with US guidance, and the success of US-guided treatment was retrospectively determined.

Fifty-six abscesses were identified at US in 43 women; all abscesses were treated with US guidance: 23 with needle aspiration and 33 with catheter drainage. Treatment method was determined according to the size of the abscess. Abscesses that were smaller than 3 cm in maximum diameter were treated with needle aspiration, and abscesses that were 3 cm or larger in maximum diameter were treated with catheter insertion. One patient who was treated with needle aspiration subsequently underwent surgical intervention; all others were successfully treated with US intervention. Catheter placement was well tolerated (mean pain score 2.3 in 22 women by using a subjective pain scale of 0-10).

US-guided needle aspiration of abscesses smaller than 3 cm and US-guided catheter drainage of abscesses 3 cm or larger are successful means of treating breast abscesses.