Breast abscess

Case contributed by Garth Kruger
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Mass in her right breast.

Patient Data

Age: 30 years
Gender: Female
ultrasound

Ultrasound of the right breast showed a poorly defined mixed density lesion with no skin abnormalities. 

Large lymph node in the axilla.

Case Discussion

This patient had been on antibiotics for 10 days before she was imaged. The breast was not red or swollen and the skin was normal and not hot to the touch.

Aspiration yielded 3 cc of pus.

Sometimes, breast abscesses are not as simple as they seem, especially when the patients have been on treatment. In my experience, it gets even more complicated sometimes when the issue is complicated by lactation. Differentiation between an abscess, a galactocele or something more sinister can be really difficult. Tread carefully here.  Repeated short-term follow up is really important so patients do not fall through the cracks

I always speak to these patients myself to impress how important follow up is and what the finding means; follow-up should preferably be at the same imaging site and with the same imager if possible 

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