Mammitis may develop in breastfeeding mothers due to reasons such as cracks, wounds, crusting and poor hygiene on the nipple. Especially when the baby cannot breastfeed, the milk flow is disrupted and the tendency for inflammation increases. In such cases, making an effort to breastfeed and, if not possible, draining the milk with the help of a pump will be useful in preventing abscess formation. When swelling and coarsening occur in certain parts of the breast, emptying only with a pump may not be sufficient. In this case, it may be necessary to support the breast tissue with gentle massages without damaging it. These procedures provide improvement in most patients by providing flow in the breast ducts without the need for intervention. In patients who do not benefit, if an abscess develops due to inflammation in the breast, it must be drained with imaging guidance or surgically. In patients who cannot be intervened in time, serious septic conditions may occur because the milk-filled breast tissue in the obstructed area provides a very suitable environment for the growth of microbes. Breastfeeding mothers can use penicillins, and if there is an allergy, antibiotics such as cephalosporins, clarithromycin, and erythromycin. Continuing breastfeeding after the abscess is drained will reduce stasis and help the infection to regress.
Inflammations outside the breastfeeding period
Inflammations that occur in the breast outside the breastfeeding period are generally associated with smoking and are seen in young patients with an average age of 35. Smoking damages the milk ducts behind the nipple and increases the tendency to germs.
It starts with redness and swelling around the nipple, and inflammatory debris forms and abscess formation occurs. While the use of antibiotics is sufficient in the beginning, once an abscess forms, abscess drainage is required, either under imaging guidance or surgically.
In patients with frequently recurring abscesses, surgery is performed to remove the milk ducts behind the nipple.
Diabetes, chronic renal failure and chemotherapy Abscesses may develop in areas far from the nipple in patients who are physically ill, have a suppressed immune system, or are debilitated. In this case, the treatment requires draining the abscess and applying antibiotic treatment.
If there is a suspicion of cancer based on both examination and imaging features, a biopsy must be taken from the inflamed area.
Chronic inflammations, Granulamatous Mastitis
Tuberculosis. There are chronic breast inflammations known as idiopathic granulomatous lobular mastitis, which are caused by chronic diseases such as z or whose cause cannot be clearly determined. Idiopathic granulomatous lobular mastitis is the most common type of chronic inflammation and is common in patients of young childbearing age. It is thought to occur as a result of the immune system elements reacting above normal against the breast's own tissue. It is often confused with breast cancer both clinically and radiologically. Recurrent breast abscesses are observed in such patients despite abscess drainage and antibiotic therapy. Histopathological examination is required for definitive diagnosis.
In treatment, immunosuppressive drugs and surgical options can be used depending on the patient's condition. If there is an abscess, it should be drained. It should be known that the disease will recover even if it takes a long time, and cosmetic and/or systemic side effects of the treatment should be avoided as much as possible.
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