Milk fistula following puerperal breast abscess.

We present the first reported video of milk fistula. Milk fistula is a rare complication secondary to abscess or breast intervention in lactating women. It is a clinical diagnosis and the treatment is usually conservative, which included cessation of breastfeeding, with a good prognosis.

Case Presentation

Formation of milk fistula is rare. We present a video and ultrasound image of milk fistula following puerperal breast abscess and review its management.

A lactating young lady with a right breast 12 o'clock ruptured abscess was treated conservatively with good recovery. A year later, after another child delivery, she developed a milk fistula at the site of her previously treated abscess (Video S1). Ultrasound revealed a fistula track (Fig. 1). The milky discharge resolved after she discontinued her breastfeeding.

Figure 1

Breast ultrasound demonstrating the milk fistula track (arrow).

Milk fistula is a pathological connection between the skin and breast duct in lactating women. It is rare, with <10 cases reported thus far. It arises secondary to breast biopsy 1, surgery, or abscess. Treatment is usually conservative which included breastfeeding cessation 2.

Authorship

GHL: overseen the patient's care. GHL and RPN: drafted the manuscript and approved the final version for submission.

Conflict of Interest

All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Video S1. Right breast 12.00 milk fistula.

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