Breast Abscesses: Diagnosis, Treatment and Outcome

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to analyze diagnostic results, different treatment modalities, and the outcome of patients with breast abscesses treated at our institution in a multi-modality breast team, to determine whether minimally invasive treatments are successful. METHODS: 110 patients with mastitis and suspected breast abscesses at our institution between January 2000 and end of September 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Abscesses were diagnosed using ultrasonography (US), and the material obtained using US-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) was further examined. RESULTS: 29% of the patients were treated conservatively with antibiotics only, 51% were treated with US-guided FNA or drainage placement. 11% of the patients underwent additional surgery after minimally invasive treatment (i.e. conversion rate). 9% of the patients underwent primary surgery. Early complications occurred in 7% of patients treated minimally invasive but not in patients treated with surgery alone. Late complications occurred in 5% of patients who underwent minimally invasive treatments and in 30% of patients who underwent surgery. CONCLUSIONS: US-guided FNA as a minimally invasive therapy in combination with antibiotics was found to successfully treat most breast abscesses and, in cases where a larger volume of pus was involved, the placement of an additional drainage catheter was effective.