BACKGROUND: Breast abscess can be treated by needle aspiration and ultrasound can facilitate its complete drainage.

OBJECTIVE: To assess ultrasonographically guided needle aspiration of breast abscesses as an alternative approach after failed initial blind aspiration.

METHODS: Twenty consecutive lactating and non lactating women who were initially aspirated for breast abscess were examined with ultrasonography. Abscesses depicted at ultrasound were treated with ultrasonographic guidance, and the success of ultrasound-guided treatment was prospectively determined.

RESULTS: Twenty breast abscesses were identified at ultrasound; all were treated with ultrasound guidance: One patient who was treated subsequently underwent surgical intervention; all others were successfully treated with ultrasound intervention.

CONCLUSION: This case series demonstrates that sonographically guided percutaneous aspiration of breast abscesses appears to be a promising alternative to surgical incision and drainage. Its advantages include its cure rate, simplicity and apparently good cosmetic result.