'I don't want to be a guinea pig' - Swedish women's experiences of breast abscess treatment.

BACKGROUND: It is well known that breastfeeding plays an important role in the health of women and children. However, women are not always given optimal support and most do not reach their breastfeeding goals. About one in five, breastfeeding women report mastitis and a small proportion of these develop a breast abscess. Our aim was to describe the experiences of a group of Swedish breastfeeding women who developed a breast abscess. METHODS: A qualitative cross-sectional study with 18 study participants was undertaken in Sweden in 2017-2018. Potential participants were identified through electronic medical records at a university hospital and invited to participate in audio-recorded telephone interviews. Women were between 2 and 24 months postpartum at the time of the interview, on average 8 months. We conducted a thematic analysis in six steps according to Braun and Clark. RESULTS: Our analysis identified two themes: 1) Seeking care and receiving treatment was long and unpleasant, and 2) Importance of adequate professional care. Women who experienced a breast abscess were uncertain about where to ask for professional help. They often had a long wait for the right time to undergo the unpleasant and painful procedure of draining their breast abscess. The women felt it was important to receive professional care with respectful communication, continuity of care, and to receive adequate information, but they did not always receive this level of care. CONCLUSIONS: Women with puerperal breast abscesses often fall between medical specialty areas. No longer under the care of obstetricians and maternity services, their problem is too complicated for general practitioners or emergency departments, but not regarded as serious by breast surgeons. Healthcare professionals urgently need adequate training in order to deal with breastfeeding problems and be able to offer women-centred care.

Breast development and disorders in children and adolescents.

Breast masses are infrequently encountered in pediatric and adolescent populations. Most breast masses in children are benign entities arising from embryological defects which can be managed once breast development is complete. Diagnostic and management dilemmas arise when fibroepithelial lesions of the breast are seen in clinical practice. Differentiation between a fibroadenoma and a phyllodes tumor is important to guide management. Breast cancer in children under 18 years of age is extremely rare and invasive diagnostic testing and aggressive management is only recommended when clinical suspicion of malignancy is very high. Patient and caregiver counseling plays an important role in the management of these diseases. While adult-onset breast diseases have been studied very closely, there is a dearth of literature on pediatric breast anomalies. This review aims to provide a scoping overview of the available literature on benign, fibroepithelial, and malignant lesions of the breast in pediatric and adolescent populations to help guide physicians and surgeons with decision-making regarding the diagnosis and management of pediatric breast diseases.

Differences in Diagnosis and Treatment of Nipple Conditions of Reproductive-Age Women at a Tertiary Health System.

Background: Nipple-areolar complex (NAC) conditions affect reproductive-age women, yet it is not known how care of NAC complaints is distributed among medical specialties. There is a need to characterize all NAC conditions, including their treatment and the care team involved in their clinical management, of nonlactating and lactating patients to determine care gaps. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of reproductive-age females who presented to a large tertiary health system with an NAC complaint between 2015 and 2020. Data about the symptoms, diagnosis, specialty providing care, diagnostic considerations, and treatments were collected. Results: Nipple pain, dermatitis, and thrush were the most common diagnoses among 407 encounters (215 patients). Lactating patients represented half (204, 50%) of the study sample. Benign breast conditions like obstructed ductal openings, accessory nipples, nipple growth, inverted nipples, and chronic and bacterial infections represented a third of all encounters. Primary care physicians (167, 41%) and obstetricians (105, 26%) provided most of the care and referred a third and quarter of patients, respectively, to another provider. Conclusion: The care of patients with NAC complaints is not limited to obstetricians. Internal medicine, family medicine, emergency medicine, and obstetrician-gynecology, dermatology, and surgery resident physicians should receive training in benign breast conditions and clinical lactation.

Physical therapy intervention for breast symptoms in lactating women: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic ultrasound, education, and massage are the most common physical therapy interventions provided to mothers with breast symptoms. However, there is insufficient evidence on the effectiveness of the combination of these interventions. This study aimed to explore the effects of the combination of therapeutic ultrasound, education, and massage on breast symptoms in lactating women. METHODS: This study was a single-blind randomized controlled trial. Postpartum lactating women aged from 21 to 45 with breast symptoms were recruited and randomly allocated to one of three groups (ultrasound group, sham group, and usual care group). The severity of breast symptoms (pain, redness, lump, general malaise), breast engorgement, breast hardness, body temperature, breast temperature, and milk volume were assessed at baseline (T1), immediately post-intervention (T2), and at 3 months following baseline (T3). RESULTS: A total of 37 participants were included in the study (ultrasound group n = 12; sham group n = 12; usual care n = 13). The severity of breast symptoms (i.e., pain, lump, and general malaise) as well as breast engorgement, were significantly improved in the ultrasound group at T2 when compared to T1, and these improvements were sustained at T3. The severity of breast engorgement was significantly lower in the ultrasound group when compared to the usual care group at T2. However, no statistically significant differences were found between the ultrasound and sham groups for all outcomes at any assessment time points. CONCLUSIONS: Physical therapy interventions may be beneficial in relieving breast symptoms in lactating women. Larger randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the findings of this study. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04569136); Date of registration: 29/09/2020.

Percutaneouse ultrasound-guided needle aspiration for management of breast abscesses - a review.

Breast abscesses are still a common cause of morbidity among lactational females. Over the years, there has been an increase in the incidence of non-lactational breast abscesses and a decrease in lactational breast abscesses. The management could be the use of the conventional method of surgical incision and drainage or the newer techniques of needle aspiration or suction drain or catheter in addition to the administration of antibiotics. The use of needle aspiration as the minimal-invasive conservative technique is generally recommended for abscesses less than 3-5 cm in diameter. However, recent studies have compared the two methods for abscesses larger than 3 cm and among patients with risk factors for breast abscesses. We aim to present the clinical evidence showing the comparison between needle aspiration and incision and drainage for breast abscesses irrespective of the size of the abscesses. There is a lack of comparative information on the two treatment modalities for breast abscesses larger than 3 cm in diameter; however, needle aspiration is being tried because of its advantages like cosmetic preference, short hospital stay and healing time, and no stoppage of breastfeeding.

Breast Abscess Healing with Homoeopathy: A Case Report.

Context: Breast abscess is the most common complication of acute bacterial mastitis usually referred to as pyogenic mastitis. It is usually encountered during lactation due to an infection with Staphylococcus aureus and streptococcal bacteria. These bacteria produce a severe inflammatory reaction leading to pus formation which is mainly treated by ultrasound-guided drainage or fine needle aspirations. We find that in this condition homoeopathic treatment can play an important role as it avoids such surgical procedures and helps in healing in a most gentle and rapid way. We report a successful single case study that opens up opportunities to take up more such cases to strengthen the results of this report. Case summary: A 23-year-old lactating mother came with complaints of pain and swelling with a collection of pus in the breast region and decreased breast milk secretion. Individualised homoeopathic medicine Silicea 200C was given to hasten suppuration and Belladonna 200C to treat inflammation.Thus, this case shows us how only few doses of medicine may be quickly helpful in managing a case of breast abscess without the need of any surgical procedures.

Pediatric and Adolescent Breast Conditions: A Review.

Breast conditions in pediatric and adolescent patients vary from benign congenital changes to pathological findings. Although most breast conditions are benign, there are rare cases of malignancy that are important to identify during development. As such, it is critical to understand the classification and management of the different pediatric and adolescent breast conditions that might present to clinicians who care for pediatric and adolescent patients. In this review, congenital, benign, and malignant pediatric/adolescent breast conditions are discussed.

Management of Nipple Discharge.

Nipple discharge is the third most common breast-related complaint but is rarely the presenting symptom of breast cancer. Distinguishing patients with physiologic versus pathologic nipple discharge, and treating the later according to the underlying pathologic condition is of utmost importance. Nipple discharge is categorized as lactational, physiologic, or pathologic. Physiologic nipple discharge (galactorrhea) is typically caused by hyperprolactinemia due to medications (ie, antipsychotics), pituitary tumors, and endocrine disorders. When a suspicious radiologic lesion is identified, pathologic assessment of the lesion is indicated. Patients with pathologic nipple discharge should be referred to a breast surgeon for definitive treatment and follow-up.

Management of Gynecomastia and Male Benign Diseases.

Gynecomastia is a common benign breast disease involving abnormally increased mammary gland tissue that can affect men of all ages. It is usually due to a hormonal imbalance without a definitive underlying cause (idiopathic), or secondary to medications/drugs, systemic disorders, or malignancy. Gynecomastia is often self-limiting, and its management is watchful waiting. Other male benign breast diseases, such as cysts, lipomas, seromas, infections, and pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia, should be worked up in a similar manner and often require surgical drainage or excision.

Benign Breast Disease.

Benign breast disease presents commonly in routine gynecologic care. Presenting symptoms such as breast mass, nipple discharge, or breast pain may raise concern for malignancy. Once breast cancer is ruled out, gynecologists must identify and appropriately treat benign breast disease. While most benign lesions can be managed conservatively, high-risk breast lesions can increase the future risk of breast cancer and may require additional screening imaging and surgical excision. Pharmacologic therapy may also have a role in certain conditions. Gynecologists should be proficient in the identification and management of benign breast disease.

Evaluation of Breast Problems.

Breast disorders arise from a myriad of etiologies. They are frequent reasons for patient encounters in primary care and obstetric and gynecologic practices. The most common complaints include breast pain, nipple discharge and breast lumps or masses. Given widespread and well-known screening recommendations, breast cancers are regularly diagnosed during routine screening. Regardless of the presenting complaint, a patient's presentation, physical examination, and diagnostic imaging may require a unique framework for adequate and timely diagnosis for appropriate intervention and treatment. This manuscript aims to discuss and guide assessment to manage breast disorders.

Management of breast complaints and high-risk lesions.

Benign breast disease including palpable breast mass, mastalgia, skin changes, and nipple discharge are common gynecologic symptoms. Practitioners should be well versed in the components of clinical breast care. Workup begins with taking a thorough medical and family history to assess risk and performing a clinical breast examination. Breast imaging is often indicated for further evaluation. A structured approach to the evaluation and management of these breast conditions is critical to distinguish benign disease from malignancy. High-risk breast lesions such as atypical hyperplasia and lobular carcinoma in situ are also frequently encountered, and while benign, they do increase the future risk of breast cancer and patients should be offered intensive surveillance and chemoprevention.

Management of Breast Abscess during Breastfeeding.

(1) Background: Breast abscess (BA) is a condition leading in the majority of cases to breastfeeding interruption. Abscesses are commonly treated with antibiotics, needle aspiration or incision and drainage (I&D), but there is still no consensus on the optimal treatment. Since there are no well-defined clinical guidelines for abscess management, we conducted a retrospective, observational study with the aim of assessing ultrasound (US)-guided management of BA without surgery, regardless of the BA size. The secondary objective was the microbiologic characterization and, in particular, the S. aureus methicillin resistance identification. (2) Methods: our population included 64 breastfeeding mothers with diagnosis of BA. For every patient, data about maternal, perinatal and breastfeeding features were collected. All patients underwent office US scans and 40 out of 64 required a more detailed breast diagnostic ultrasound performed by a radiologist. In all cases, samples of milk or abscess material were microbiologically tested. All patients received oral antibiotic treatment. We performed needle aspiration, when feasible, even on abscesses greater than 5 cm. (3) Results: most of the women developed BA during the first 100 days (68.8% during the first 60 days) after delivery and 13 needed hospitalization. Four abscesses were bilateral and 16 had a US major diameter greater than 5 cm. All patients were treated with antibiotic therapy according to our clinical protocol and 71.9% (46/64) underwent fine needle aspiration. None of them required I&D. The average duration of breastfeeding was 5 months (IR 2; 9.5) and 40.6% of women with BA continued to breastfeed for more than 6 months. Only 21 mothers interrupted breastfeeding before 3 months. (4) Conclusions: our observational data suggest, regardless of the size and the clinical features of the BA, a conservative approach with antibiotic therapy targeted at the Methicillin-Resistant Staphilococcus aureus (MRSA) identified and needle aspiration, if feasible. In our experience, treatment with needle aspiration is a cost- effective method. Unlike drainage, it is an outpatient procedure, easily repeatable, with no cosmetic damage. In addition, it has lower risk of recurrences since, differently from surgical incision, it does not cause interruption of the ducts. Moreover, needle aspiration is less painful, does not require the separation of the mother-child dyad and allows for a quicker, if not immediate, return to breastfeeding.

Hiperplasia estromal pseudoangiomatosa (HEP) de mama: a propósito de un caso / Pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH) of the breast: about a case

La hiperplasia pseudoangiomatosa estromal de la mama es una patología benigna de rara aparición en mujeres, que hoy en día sigue generando incertidumbre en cuanto a su manifestación y al tratamiento definitivo. Nuestro objetivo será detallar el manejo y los resultados obtenidos luego de tratar a una paciente con esta patología atendida en hospital público durante la pandemia, que presentó gigantomastia bilateral a expensas de crecimiento y simetrización de mama contralateral afectada por HEP durante su estado gravídico.

Pseudoangimatous stromal hyperplasia of the breast, is a pathology of rare appearance, in women, which today continues to generate uncertainty regarding its manifestation and definitive treatment. Our objective will be to detail the management and results obtained after treating a patient with this pathology in a public hospital during a pandemic. who presented bilateral gigantomastia at the expense of growth and symmetrization of the contralateral breast affected by HEP during her pregnancy.

Challenges in the Management of Breast Conditions During Lactation.

The lactating breast can develop a wide range of conditions that require surgical management, from abscess drainage to the evaluation of nipple-areolar complex (NAC) lesions. In addition, both benign and malignant masses can present in the lactating population. Patients should undergo routine diagnostic workup including core needle biopsy if indicated. Ultrasound, mammogram, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadolinium contrast are safe in lactation and do not require interruption of breastfeeding.

Real-world reference scores for EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BR23 in early breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE: To deliver patient-reported outcome (PRO) reference data for breast cancer and various other breast diseases to facilitate the interpretation of PRO scores during routine breast cancer treatment. METHODS: To determine reference baseline values for the PRO measures EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BR23, PRO data captured in the breast cancer centre at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin from 2016 to 2021 were evaluated. As part of the clinical routine, ambulatory patients were asked to answer a digital survey regarding their medical history, current health status and health-related quality of life using the aforementioned questionnaires prior to their doctor's appointment in the outpatient breast clinic. Adjusted linear and variable dispersion beta regression models were used to compare different diagnosis groups. RESULTS: A total of 3689 patients were included in the digital PRO program, of which 1478 were eligible for this study; 729 had invasive breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ, 270 patients were diagnosed with fibroadenoma and 479 patients had other breast diseases such as cysts, mastopathy or abscesses. Overall, patients with breast cancer reported worse scores in almost all domains except for role functioning, sexual functioning and body image. Compared to previously published reference scores for early breast cancer, the current data show a more pronounced impact on perceived emotional and cognitive functioning. CONCLUSION: The results of this study are of high value for the interpretation of PROs and facilitate their use in clinical practice and clinical trials. The scores indicate an urgent need for psychosocial support prior to treatment.