title: Aspiration of breast abscess under ultrasound guidance: outcome obtained and factors affecting success.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess ultrasonographically (US) guided needle aspiration of breast abscesses as an alternative to surgical incision and drainage.
  
  
  METHODS
  In our prospective study, 30 patients with 31 breast abscesses (one patient had bilateral breast abscess) underwent percutaneous breast abscess drainage under US guidance with local anaesthesia and oral antibiotics between 1 January 2004 and 31 March 2005. These patients consisted of 16 (53.3%) non-lactating and 14 (46.7%) lactating women, with ages ranging from 18 to 68 years (median, 28 years). The racial distribution comprised 26 (86.7%) Malays, three (10%) Chinese and one (3.3%) Indian. All patients had the chief complaint of breast swelling and 25 (83.3%) had breast pain. Clinically, 28 (93.3%) were found to have a palpable mass. Nine (30%) lesions were in the upper outer quadrant of the left breast. US diameters ranged from 1 to 15 cm (median, 4 cm). The pus volumes varied from 1 to 200 mL (median, 14 mL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen (50%) patients required only a single aspiration, 10 required multiple aspirations and five required incision and drainage. Those patients in whom needle aspiration failed had multiloculated lesions irrespective of abscess volume and size.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Needle aspiration with ultrasound guidance is an effective treatment for breast abscess irrespective of abscess volume and size.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. faiselelagili@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Faisal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Elagili
authors.forename: Norlia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abdullah
authors.forename: Liew
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: Tan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pei
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013396:Suction; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary