[Recurrent breast abscess: role of smoking]

The treatment of recurrent non lactational breast abscesses is difficult. They occur with no apparent cause in young smoking patients. Twenty-two patients, mean age 40 years range 27-68, were treated over a period of 18 months by wide surgical excision with secondary spontaneous healing. No patient received post-operative antibiotics. Complete healing was obtained in 3-6 weeks. There were two recurrences with a follow up of 6-24 months. One patient developed a controlateral abscess which was treated by the same technique. No cosmetic defect was observed after complete healing. The duration of healing is upsetting for these young women, but the discomfort and pain induced by recurrent abscesses encourages them to accept this technique if properly and expertly counselled. The role of tabacco smoking seems to be the only cause of these recurring abscesses. All the patients (22/22) were heavy smokers.