Surgical management of recurrent subareolar breast abscesses: Mayo Clinic experience

BACKGROUND: Recurrent subareolar abscess is an uncommon condition of the breast. The disease process often is managed inadequately by repeated courses of antibiotics and/or incision and drainage procedures that temporarily may relieve the abscess collection but fails to correct the primary inciting process. Repeated surgical procedures may lead to multiple scars, nipple and breast distortion without cure of the problem, or even to mastectomy. METHODS: We report a retrospective review of patients who have been treated surgically with this condition at a single institution from 1993 to 2005. RESULTS: Successful definitive treatment of retroareolar abscesses necessitates excision of the central nipple, including the obstructed ducts. CONCLUSIONS: This technique achieves a cure rate of 91% and an overall 95% satisfaction rate in the cosmetic outcome of the nipple.