Summary
Breast fistula, presenting usually as a chronic discharge, is an uncommon disease. The recommended treatment is either radical excision of the entire fistulous tract and primary closure, or wide incision and drainage leaving the affected area to heal secondarily. Failure to recognize the disease or inappropriate surgical treatment may lead to recurrence and formation of a network of fistulae. We present our experience of 12 patients with breast fistulae, 4 of whom had long histories of multiple recurrences. These patients required an unconventional surgical approach to eradicate the disease.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Zuska JJ, Crile G, Ayres WW (1951) Fistulas of lactiferous ducts. Am J Surg 8:312–317
Atkins HJB (1955) Mammillary fistula. Br Med J:1473–1474
Haagenssen DC (1971) Diseases of the breast, 2nd edn, Chap 17, pp 337–339
Pitanguy I (1967) Surgical treatment of breast hypertrophy. Br J Plast Surg 20:78
Robbins TH (1977) A reduction mammaplasty with the areola nipple based on an inferior dermal pedicle. Plast Reconstr Surg 59:64
Abramson DJ (1969) Mammary duct ectasia, mammillary fistula and subareolar sinus. Ann Surg 169:217–226
Maier WP, Berger A, Derrick JM (1982) Periareolar abscess in the nonlactating breast. Am J Surg 144:359–361
Lamber ME, Betts CD, Sellwood RA (1986) Mammillary fistula Br J Surg 73:367–368
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lelcuk, S., Merhav, A., Greift, F. et al. Radical treatment of recurrent breast fistulae. Eur J Plast Surg 14, 7–9 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00585580
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00585580