Breast abscess natural history, complications, and prognosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Elsaiey, MBBCH [2]

Overview

The breast abscess will rupture around its location on the skin if kept untreated. Complications of breast abscess include milk fistula and antibioma. Breast abscess prognosis is usually good with appropriate treatment but recurrence may occur.

Natural history, complications and prognosis

Natural History

There is no significant natural history regarding the breast abscess. However, the abscess generally if not treated it will rupture around its site or necrosis will take place.

Complications

Complications that can develop in cases of breast abscess are:

Milk fistula: A very rare complication that may occur in the lactating patient. It is defined as an opening between the lactiferous duct to the skin causing leakage of the milk on the skin.
Antibioma: Chronicity of the breast abscess, a condition that may take place in case of using antibiotics for a long time without surgical drainage of the abscess.

Prognosis

Breast abscess prognosis is good with treatment but it has a high recurrence rate. In non lactational abscess has a high chance of recurrence (more than 50% of the cases).^[1] In the lactational abscess the chance of recurrence is around 35-50% of the cases.^[2] ^[3]

References

↑ Kasales CJ, Han B, Smith JS, Chetlen AL, Kaneda HJ, Shereef S (2014). “Nonpuerperal mastitis and subareolar abscess of the breast”. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 202 (2): W133–9. doi:10.2214/AJR.13.10551. PMID 24450694.
↑ Miller AB, Wall C, Baines CJ, Sun P, To T, Narod SA (2014). “Twenty five year follow-up for breast cancer incidence and mortality of the Canadian National Breast Screening Study: randomised screening trial”. BMJ. 348: g366. doi:10.1136/bmj.g366. PMC 3921437. PMID 24519768. Review in: Evid Based Med. 2014 Oct;19(5):183 Review in: Ann Intern Med. 2014 May 20;160(10):JC7
↑ Fahrni M, Schwarz EI, Stadlmann S, Singer G, Hauser N, Kubik-Huch RA (2012). “Breast Abscesses: Diagnosis, Treatment and Outcome”. Breast Care (Basel). 7 (1): 32–38. doi:10.1159/000336547. PMC 3335354. PMID 22553470.

Template:WH Template:WS

[pmid24450694-1] Kasales CJ, Han B, Smith JS, Chetlen AL, Kaneda HJ, Shereef S (2014). “Nonpuerperal mastitis and subareolar abscess of the breast”. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 202 (2): W133–9. doi:10.2214/AJR.13.10551. PMID 24450694.

[pmid24519768-2] Miller AB, Wall C, Baines CJ, Sun P, To T, Narod SA (2014). “Twenty five year follow-up for breast cancer incidence and mortality of the Canadian National Breast Screening Study: randomised screening trial”. BMJ. 348: g366. doi:10.1136/bmj.g366. PMC 3921437. PMID 24519768. Review in: Evid Based Med. 2014 Oct;19(5):183 Review in: Ann Intern Med. 2014 May 20;160(10):JC7

[pmid22553470-3] Fahrni M, Schwarz EI, Stadlmann S, Singer G, Hauser N, Kubik-Huch RA (2012). “Breast Abscesses: Diagnosis, Treatment and Outcome”. Breast Care (Basel). 7 (1): 32–38. doi:10.1159/000336547. PMC 3335354. PMID 22553470.

[1]

[2]

[3]