title: [Chronic recurrent subareolar abscess formation].
abstract: Chronic recurrent subareolar abcedation. Chronic recurrent subareolar breast abscess is an unfrequent disease of the breast. The surgeon must be acquainted with the syndrome, otherwise it may lead to unnecessary mutilation. The condition usually develops in younger women, but has no relation with lactation. Inverted nipples are a constant finding. The evolution is a chronical one, with acute exacerbations. Small abscesses rupture spontaneously or necessitate surgical drainage or disappear with antibiotics. The basic pathological factor is squamous metaplasia of the lining epithelium of the milksinus. The ampulla is plugged with keratine debris and leads to abscess formation in the retroareolar space. Chronic recurrent subareolar abscesses have to be distinguished from commedomastitis, also called ductal ectasia. The treatment is different for acute and chronical forms. In the acute form antibiotics are administered and eventually incision and drainage of the abscess are performed. In the chronical form excision of the diseased milksinus and fibrotic tissue with the nipple is mandatory. We do not hesitate to excise the majority of the milksinuses.
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008413:Mastitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D011247:Pregnancy; D012008:Recurrence
vernacular_title: Chronische recidiverende subareolaire abcedatie.