CHRONIC BREAST INFECTIONS: CHALLENGING CONDITION TO DIAGNOSE AND TREAT; AN OVERVIEW OF 70 CASES

Abstract

Objective: To share our experience of clinical features and management strategies for treatment of chronic breast infections.

Study Design: Case series.

Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi, from Feb 2016 to Feb 2018.

Methodology: We prospectively enrolled patients with diagnosis of chronic breast infections over a period of two years. All patients with infections (less than one month old) were excluded from the study. We studied the demographic characteristics like age, clinical presentation, histopathological features, treatment given and response to the treatment.

Results: A total of 70 patients were enrolled in the study. Patients age was between 21-75 years with mean age of 42 ± 5 years. Most common clinical presentation was lump and in duration with abscess in 23 (33%) cases, mass with discharging sinuses in 16 (23%) cases, while 7 (10%) cases had recurrent abscess. Diagnosis was made on core biopsy in 21 cases and in remaining cases with incision and drainage. Histopathology confirmed diagnosis of Idiopathic Granulomatous mastitis in 30 (43%) cases, acute on chronic mastitis in 27 (38%) and chronic granulomatous mastitis in 13 (18%) cases. Out of all cases 29 (41%) showed response to antibacterial treatment while 27 (38%) cases responded to anti tuberculous treatment. Spontaneous resolution occurred in 11 (16%) cases while 3 (4%) cases responded to antifungal treatment.

Conclusion: Chronic breast infections are a challenging condition to diagnose and treat for breast surgeons and can present with diverse range of clinical features.