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Pilonidal abscess of the breast.
Joseph Keighley1,2, Aishah Nadim2, David Howlett3
1Radiology Department, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Brighton, UK.
BMJ Case Reports
|April 3, 2019
Summary
Pilonidal abscess, typically in the natal cleft, can rarely occur in the breast. This case highlights its importance as a differential diagnosis for breast abscesses, especially recurrent or slow-resolving ones.
Area of Science:
- General Surgery
- Dermatology
- Pathology
Background:
- Pilonidal disease commonly affects the natal cleft in adult males.
- Pilonidal sinus at extragluteal sites is infrequently documented.
- Breast abscesses are common presentations in women's breast clinics.
Observation:
- A 52-year-old woman presented with nipple inversion and breast pain.
- Clinical and imaging findings indicated a periareolar breast abscess.
- The abscess recurred despite initial antibiotic treatment and needle aspiration.
Findings:
- Surgical excision and subsequent histology confirmed a pilonidal abscess in the breast.
- This represents a rare presentation of pilonidal disease.
- Pilonidal abscess is a crucial differential diagnosis for breast abscesses.
Implications:
- Consider pilonidal abscess in the differential diagnosis of breast abscesses, particularly those with atypical presentations.
- Recurrent or slow-resolving breast abscesses warrant thorough investigation for less common etiologies.
- This case expands the known anatomical sites for pilonidal disease and its clinical recognition.
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