title: [Clinical usefulness of ultrasound-guided alcohol sclerosis in patients with breast fistulas].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the clinical usefulness of ultrasound-guided alcohol sclerosis as a treatment alternative to surgical intervention for breast fistulas.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective study of data collected in a hospital breast unit over a three-year period (January 2011 through December 2013). The procedure consists of introducing a sclerosing solution into the lumen of the breast fistula under ultrasound guidance. All cases were reviewed by a multidisciplinary committee; patients were offered ultrasound-guided alcohol sclerosis as a first treatment option with surgical intervention as a rescue therapy for those with unsatisfactory outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten fistulas were treated in 9 women (median age, 33 y; interquartile range 18.5 y). Five patients (50%) attributed the clinical findings to recurrent mastitis, four (40%) to a previous surgical intervention, and one (10%) to lactation. Seven patients (78%) were smokers. The procedure was well tolerated: nine patients (90%) rated the pain as one or 2 (mild pain) on a visual analogue scale. There were no immediate complications. The response to treatment was considered excellent (absence of secretion and complete closure) in eight fistulas (80%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasound-guided alcohol sclerosis achieved excellent outcomes in 80% of cases and is a viable alternative to surgical treatment.
authors: Servicio de Radiodiagnóstico, Complejo Asistencial Universitario de León, León, España. Electronic address: anitarayos@gmail.com.
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Fernández Martínez
authors: Servicio de Radiodiagnóstico, Complejo Asistencial Universitario de León, León, España.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: López González
authors: Servicio de Medicina Preventiva, Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Doctor Negrín, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Santana-Lopez
authors: Servicio de Radiodiagnóstico, Complejo Asistencial Universitario de León, León, España.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Álvarez Silva
authors: Servicio de Radiodiagnóstico, Complejo Asistencial Universitario de León, León, España.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Cuesta Marcos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D012597:Sclerosing Solutions; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Breast; Breast ultrasound; Cutaneous fistula; Ecografía mamaria; Fistula; Fístula; Fístula cutánea; Mama