The British journal of radiology
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The aim of this paper is to describe the efficacy of ultrasound-guided drainage of breast abscesses with special attention to the risk of recurrence and the need for surgical treatment in a consecutive patient population. 151 patients, 89 with puerperal and 62 with non-puerperal breast abscesses, were treated with ultrasound-guided drainage, by needle or 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. ⋯ There were no reports of newly diagnosed breast cancer in the 2 year follow-up period. This study supports the use of ultrasound-guided drainage in puerperal and non-puerperal breast abscesses. The method is less invasive than traditional surgery and has a high rate of success.