Breast abscess is a common problem encountered in the emergency department and outpatient clinic. Traditionally it has been managed with surgical incision and drainage (I&D), however there is increasing data to support ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage as the first line of management. Outcomes are often successful and the complication rate is lower than that of traditional surgical I&D. In this exhibit we will review the typical clinical and imaging presentation of breast abscesses and review the radiologist’s role in the management and treatment of them.
1) Clinical presentations of patients presenting with breast abscesses
2) Imaging appearance of breast abscesses and specifically the findings to support an attempt at percutaneous drainage
3) Procedural steps for image-guided percutaneous drainage and outline appropriate follow-up/management recommendations
Breast abscesses can be treated successfully with minimally invasive ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage and antibiotic therapy. The radiologist should be familiar with the clinical and imaging presentations of breast abscesses as they can be confused with a malignant process and not all infections are amenable to percutaneous drainage. With this knowledge, the radiologist can become the lead therapist in managing many of these acute clinically significant lesions.
Necessary, S,
Ho, C,
Cohen, M,
Managing Breast Abscesses: What is the Radiologist’s Role?. Radiological Society of North America 2013 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, December 1 - December 6, 2013 ,Chicago IL.
http://archive.rsna.org/2013/13013863.html
