Ultrasound-Guided Drainage of Breast Abscess

Abstract

Objective: To assess the efficacy of ultrasound-guided drainage of breast abscesses with special attention to the risk of recurrence and the need for surgical treatment, to avoid postoperative morbidity, to reduce the hospital stay and cost of treatment, to determine the need for termination of breast feeding. Methods: 100 patients with breast were selected conveniently among those who were admitted in Dinajpur Medical College hospital or visited to surgery OPD with breast abscess. They were evaluated by short history, clinical examination and ultrasonogram. After counseling and taking consent they were treated with ultrasound-guided drainage, by needle or pigtail catheter under local anaesthesia. Follow-up punctures were performed at 2 or 3 day intervals until the clinical condition and ultrasound findings had improved. All patients were treated with oral antibiotics. Mammography was performed to search for underlying cancer. Results: Among the 100 cases included in the study, ninety-seven 97% patients with puerperal abscesses and 81% with non-puerperal abscesses recovered after the first round of ultrasound-guided drainage. One patient in each group had recurrence in loco but recovered after further ultrasound-guided drainage. Seven patients, 6 with non-puerperal and 01 with puerperal abscesses, underwent surgical excision of the abscess cavity or fistulas. Breastfeeding continued and 23 patients were treated as outpatients. The median number of follow up examinations in the ultrasound-department was four (range 1–10) for the group of patients with puerperal abscess and three (range 1–7) in the group of patients with non- puerperal abscess. The corresponding figure for the median number of punctures was for both groups one (range 1–6 and 1–4). There were no reports of newly diagnosed breast cancer in the 1-year follow-up period. Conclusion: Treatment of breast abscess with US-guided Percutaneous aspiration or Pigtail catheter drainage both in puerperal and .......