Ultrasound Guided Needle Aspiration versus Surgical Drainage in the Management of Breast Abscesses: A Study Done in RIMS

Background Despite breast abscess becoming less common in developed countries, it has remained one of the leading causes of morbidity in women in developing countries. A randomized controlled trial was conducted at RIMS hospital complex in Ranchi jharkhand to establish whether ultrasound guided needle aspiration is a feasible alternative treatment option for breast abscesses. Results A total of 130 females with breast abscess were analyzed, of these 66 patients were randomized into the ultrasound guided needle aspiration and 64 patients in the Incision and drainage arm. The mean age was 23.12, most of them were lactating (66.2 %), primipararous (44.6 %) with peripheral abscesses (73.8 %) located in the upper lateral quadrant (56 %). The two groups were comparably in demographic characteristic and breast abscess size. Survival analysis showed no difference in breast abscess healing rate between the two groups. Incision and drainage was found to be more costly than ultrasound guided aspiration. Conclusion Ultrasound guided needle aspiration is therefore a feasible and cost effective treatment option for both lactating and non lactating breast abscesses with a diameter up to 5 cm by ultrasound in an immune competent patient Breast abscess, Ultrasound guided needle aspiration, Surgical drainage,