Pilonidal abscess of the breast

Abstract

Pilonidal disease is a common condition, typically occurring in the natal cleft of adult males. Other sites of pilonidal sinus are rarely reported. We report a case of periareolar pilonidal abscess in the breast of a 52-year-old woman who presented via the breast clinic complaining of nipple inversion and pain. Clinical examination and imaging revealed an underlying abscess which recurred despite antibiotic therapy and needle aspiration; the patient therefore underwent surgical excision of the abscess cavity. Subsequent histology diagnosed pilonidal abscess, an important differential to consider in the case of breast abscess, particularly in cases that are slow to resolve or recur post-treatment.