Dixon JM, 1992, UK | 18 consecutive patients with non-lactational breast abscesses | Clinical trial | Clinical course | All abscesses resolved within 2 weeks | Not randomised, small study |
| Aspiration (10) v local anaesthetic drainage (7) or both (1) | | Patient satisfaction | All patients expressed satisfaction | |
Tan SM and Low SC, 1998, Singapore | 21 consecutive patients with breast abscess | Prospective case series | Clinical course | 19 patients successfully treated by needle aspiration | No control. Small study |
| | | Recurrences | 3 | |
Hook GW and Ikeda DM, 1999, USA | 13 patients undergoing ultrasonically guided breast abscess aspiration | Case series | Clinical course | 8 abscesses resolved completely after aspiration. 5 were referred for surgical management | No control. Very small study |
Schwarz RJ and Shrestha R, 2001, USA | 30 patients with 33 breast abscesses treated by needle aspiration | Prospective case series | Clinical course | 18 cases require only single aspiration. 9 cases required multiple aspirations, 6 cases required incision and drainage | No control. Small study |
Imperiale A, et al, 2001, Italy | 26 patients with 28 abscesses undergoing ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration and antibiotic injection | Case series | Clinical course (serial ultrasonography) | 27 abscesses resolved over 7 weeks. One required surgical drainage | No control. Small study |
Leborgne F and Leborgne F, 2003, Uruguay | 73 patients with breast abscesses undergoing sonographically guided aspiration and antibiotic instillation | Case series | Clinical course | 38 cases cured after a single aspiration, 18 cured after 2 aspirations and 8 cured after multiple aspirations | No control |
| | | | Surgical rescue required in 3 cases and 6 patients refused a second aspiration | |