Causes of Breast abscess
List of causes of Breast abscess
Following is a list of causes or underlying conditions
(see also Misdiagnosis of underlying causes of Breast abscess)
that could possibly cause Breast abscess includes:
- Mastitis - usually resulting from breast feeding
More causes:
see full list of causes for Breast abscess
Breast abscess Causes: Risk Factors
The following conditions have been cited in various
sources as potentially causal risk factors
related to Breast abscess:
Breast abscess Causes: Book Excerpts
Breast abscess: Related Medical Conditions
To research the causes of Breast abscess, consider researching the causes of these
these diseases that may be similar, or associated with Breast abscess:
Breast abscess: Causes and Types
Causes of Broader Categories of Breast abscess: Review the causal information about the various more general categories of medical conditions:
Breast abscess as a complication of other conditions:
Other conditions that might have
Breast abscess as a complication may,
potentially, be an underlying cause of Breast abscess.
Our database lists the following as having
Breast abscess as a complication of that condition:
What causes Breast abscess?
Causes: Breast abscess:
Usually a breast infection resulting from breast feeding causing mastitis
Related information on causes of Breast abscess:
As with all medical conditions,
there may be many causal factors.
Further relevant information on causes of Breast abscess may be found in:
Causes of Breast abscess: Online Medical Books
16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE!
Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration,
for more information about the causes of Breast abscess.
Nipple discharge:
Medical causes
(Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition))
Breast abscess
Breast abscess, most common in breast-feeding women, may produce a thick, purulent discharge from a cracked nipple or infected duct. Associated findings include an abrupt onset of a high fever with chills; breast pain, tenderness, and erythema; a palpable soft nodule or generalized induration; and possibly, nipple retraction.
Breast cancer
Breast cancer may cause bloody, watery, or purulent discharge from a normal-appearing nipple. Characteristic findings include a hard, irregular, fixed lump; erythema; dimpling; peau d’orange; changes in contour; nipple deviation, flattening, or retraction; axillary lymphadenopathy; and, possibly, breast pain.
Choriocarcinoma
Galactorrhea (a white or grayish milky discharge) may result from this highly malignant neoplasm, which can follow pregnancy. Other characteristics include persistent uterine bleeding and bogginess after delivery or curettage and vaginal masses.
Intraductal papilloma
Intraductal papilloma is the primary cause of nipple discharge in the nonpregnant, non–breast-feeding woman. Unilateral serous, serosanguineous, or bloody nipple discharge — usually from only one duct — is its predominant sign. Discharge may be intermittent or profuse and constant and can usually be stimulated by gentle pressure around the areola. Subareolar nodules, breast pain, and tenderness may occur.
Mammary duct ectasia
A thick, sticky, grayish discharge from multiple ducts may be the first sign of mammary duct ectasia. The discharge may be bilateral and is usually spontaneous. Other findings include a rubbery, poorly delineated lump beneath the areola, with a blue-green discoloration of the overlying skin; nipple retraction; and redness, swelling, tenderness, and burning pain in the areola and nipple.
Paget’s disease
With Paget’s disease, serous or bloody discharge emits from denuded skin on the nipple, which is red, intensely itchy and, possibly, eroded or excoriated. The discharge is usually unilateral.
Prolactin-secreting pituitary tumor
Bilateral galactorrhea may occur with prolactin-secreting pituitary tumor. Other findings include amenorrhea, infertility, decreased libido and vaginal secretions, headaches, and blindness.
Proliferative (fibrocystic) breast disease
Proliferative breast disease is a benign disorder that occasionally causes a bilateral clear, milky, or straw-colored discharge, which is rarely purulent or bloody. Multiple round, soft, tender nodules are usually palpable in both breasts, although they may occur singly. Usually, nodules are mobile and are located in the upper outer quadrant. Nodule size, tenderness, and discharge increase during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Symptoms then regress after menses.
Other causes
Drugs
Galactorrhea can be caused by psychotropic agents, particularly phenothiazines and tricyclic antidepressants; some antihypertensives (reserpine and methyldopa); hormonal contraceptives; cimetidine; metoclopramide; and verapamil.
Surgery
Chest wall surgery may stimulate the thoracic nerves, causing intermittent bilateral galactorrhea.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition), 2006
Nipple retraction:
Medical causes
(Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition))
Breast abscess
Breast abscess, most common in breast-feeding women, occasionally produces unilateral nipple retraction. More common findings include a high fever with chills; breast pain, erythema, and tenderness; breast induration or a soft mass; and cracked, sore nipples, possibly with a purulent discharge.
Breast cancer
Unilateral nipple retraction is commonly accompanied by a hard, fixed, nontender nodule beneath the areola as well as other breast nodules. Other nipple changes include itching, burning, erosion, and watery or bloody discharge. Breast changes commonly include dimpling, altered contour, peau d’orange, ulceration, tenderness (possibly pain), redness, and warmth. Axillary lymph nodes may be enlarged.
Mammary duct ectasia
Nipple retraction commonly occurs along with a poorly defined, rubbery nodule beneath the areola, with a blue-green skin discoloration; areolar burning, itching, swelling, tenderness, and erythema; and nipple pain with a thick, sticky, grayish, multiductal discharge.
Mastitis
Nipple retraction, deviation, cracking, or flattening may occur in mastitis with a firm and indurated or tender, flocculent, discrete breast nodule; warmth; erythema; tenderness; and edema. Fatigue, high fevers, and chills may also be present.
Other causes
Surgery
Previous breast surgery may cause underlying scarring and retraction.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition), 2006
Nipple discharge:
Medical causes
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))
Breast abscess
This disorder, most common in breast-feeding women, may produce a thick, purulent discharge from a cracked nipple or infected duct. Associated findings include abrupt onset of high fever with chills; breast pain, tenderness, and erythema; a palpable soft nodule or generalized induration; and possibly, nipple retraction.
Breast cancer
This may cause bloody, watery, or purulent discharge from a normal-appearing nipple. Characteristic findings include a hard, irregular, fixed lump; erythema; dimpling; peau d’orange; changes in contour; nipple deviation, flattening, or retraction; axillary lymphadenopathy; and possibly, breast pain.
Choriocarcinoma
Galactorrhea (a white or grayish milky discharge) may result from this highly malignant neoplasm, which can follow pregnancy. Other characteristics include persistent uterine bleeding and bogginess after delivery or curettage, and vaginal masses.
Herpes zoster
This virus can stimulate the thoracic nerves, causing bilateral, spontaneous, intermittent galactorrhea. Other characteristics include shooting or burning pain, eruption of small red nodules or vesicles on the thorax and possibly the arms and legs, pruritus and paresthesia or hyperesthesia in affected areas, headache, and fever and malaise.
Hypothyroidism
This disorder occasionally causes galactorrhea. Related findings include bradycardia; weight gain despite anorexia; decreased mentation; periorbital edema; menorrhagia; constipation; puffy face, hands, and feet; brittle, sparse hair; and dry, doughy, pale, cool skin.
Intraductal papilloma
This disorder is the primary cause of nipple discharge in the nonpregnant, non–breast-feeding woman. Unilateral serous, serosanguineous, or bloody nipple discharge—usually from only one duct—is its predominant sign. Discharge may be intermittent or profuse and constant, and can often be stimulated by gentle pressure around the areola. Subareolar nodules, breast pain, and tenderness may occur.
Mammary duct ectasia
A thick, sticky, grayish discharge from multiple ducts may be the first sign of this disorder. The discharge may be bilateral and is usually spontaneous. Other findings include a rubbery, poorly delineated lump beneath the areola, with a blue-green discoloration of the overlying skin; nipple retraction; and redness, swelling, tenderness, and burning pain in the areola and nipple.
Paget’s disease
With this disorder, serous or bloody discharge emits from denuded skin on the nipple, which is red, intensely itchy and, possibly, eroded or excoriated. The discharge is usually unilateral.
Prolactin-secreting pituitary tumor
Bilateral galactorrhea may occur with this tumor. Other findings include amenorrhea, infertility, decreased libido and vaginal secretions, headaches, and blindness.
Proliferative (fibrocystic) breast disease
This benign disorder occasionally causes a bilateral clear, milky, or straw-colored discharge, which is rarely purulent or bloody. Multiple round, soft, tender nodules are usually palpable in both breasts, although they may occur singly. Usually, nodules are mobile and are located in the upper outer quadrant. Nodule size, tenderness, and discharge increase during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Symptoms then regress after menses.
Trauma
Bilateral galactorrhea can result from trauma to the breasts.
Other causes
Drugs
Galactorrhea can be caused by psychotropic agents, particularly phenothiazines and tricyclic antidepressants; some antihypertensives (reserpine and methyldopa); hormonal contraceptives; cimetidine; metoclopramide; and verapamil.
Surgery
Chest wall surgery may stimulate the thoracic nerves, causing intermittent bilateral galactorrhea.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition), 2006
Nipple retraction:
Medical causes
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))
Breast abscess
This disorder, most common in breast-feeding women, occasionally produces unilateral nipple retraction. More common findings include high fever with chills; breast pain, erythema, and tenderness; breast induration or soft mass; and cracked, sore nipples, possibly with purulent discharge.
Breast cancer
Unilateral nipple retraction is commonly accompanied by a hard, fixed, nontender nodule beneath the areola, as well as other breast nodules. Other nipple changes include itching, burning, erosion, and watery or bloody discharge. Breast changes commonly include dimpling, altered contour, peau d’orange, ulceration, tenderness (possibly pain), redness, and warmth. Axillary lymph nodes may be enlarged.
Mammary duct ectasia
Nipple retraction commonly occurs along with a poorly defined, rubbery nodule beneath the areola, with a blue-green skin discoloration; areolar burning, itching, swelling, tenderness, and erythema; and nipple pain with a thick, sticky, grayish, multiductal discharge.
Mastitis
Nipple retraction, deviation, cracking, or flattening may occur in this disorder with a firm and indurated or tender, flocculent, discrete breast nodule, warmth, erythema, tenderness, and edema. Fatigue, high fevers, and chills may also be present.
Other causes
Surgery
Previous breast surgery may cause underlying scarring and retraction.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition), 2006
Nipple discharge:
Medical causes
(Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses)
Breast abscess
A breast abscess, most common in breast-feeding women, may produce a thick, purulent discharge from a cracked nipple or an infected duct. Associated findings include abrupt onset of high fever with chills; breast pain, tenderness, and erythema; a palpable soft nodule or generalized induration; and, possibly, nipple retraction.
Breast cancer
Breast cancer may cause bloody, watery, or purulent discharge from a normal-appearing nipple. Characteristic findings include a hard, irregular, fixed lump; erythema; dimpling; peau d’orange; changes in contour; nipple deviation, flattening, or retraction; axillary lymphadenopathy; and, possibly, breast pain.
Choriocarcinoma
Galactorrhea (a white or grayish milky discharge) may result from choriocarcinoma, a highly malignant neoplasm that can follow pregnancy. Other characteristics of choriocarcinoma include persistent uterine bleeding and bogginess after delivery or curettage, and vaginal masses.
Herpes zoster
Herpes zoster can stimulate the thoracic nerves, causing bilateral, spontaneous, intermittent galactorrhea. Other characteristics include shooting or burning pain, eruption of small red nodules or vesicles on the thorax and possibly the arms and legs, pruritus and paresthesia or hyperesthesia in affected areas, headache, and fever and malaise.
Intraductal papilloma
Intraductal papilloma is the primary cause of nipple discharge in the nonpregnant, non-breast-feeding woman. Unilateral serous, serosanguineous, or bloody nipple discharge — usually from only one duct — is its predominant sign. Discharge may be intermittent or profuse and constant, and can usually be stimulated by gentle pressure around the areola. Subareolar nodules, breast pain, and tenderness may occur.
Mammary duct ectasia
A thick, sticky, grayish discharge from multiple ducts may be the first sign of mammary duct ectasia. The discharge may be bilateral and is usually spontaneous. Other findings include a rubbery, poorly delineated lump beneath the areola, with a blue-green discoloration of the overlying skin; nipple retraction; and redness, swelling, tenderness, and burning pain in the areola and nipple.
Paget’s disease
With Paget’s disease, serous or bloody discharge emits from denuded skin on the nipple, which is red, intensely itchy and, possibly, eroded or excoriated. The discharge is usually unilateral.
Prolactin-secreting pituitary tumor
Bilateral galactorrhea may occur with this tumor. Other findings include amenorrhea, infertility, decreased libido and vaginal secretions, headaches, and blindness.
Proliferative (fibrocystic) breast disease
Proliferative (fibrocystic) breast disease is a benign disorder that occasionally causes a bilateral clear, milky, or straw-colored discharge, which is rarely purulent or bloody. Multiple round, soft, tender nodules are usually palpable in both breasts, although they may occur singly. Usually, nodules are mobile and are located in the upper outer quadrant. Nodule size, tenderness, and discharge increase during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Symptoms then regress after menses.
Trauma
Bilateral galactorrhea can result from trauma to the breasts. Depending on the cause and severity of the chest trauma, the patient may also have chest pain, dyspnea, bruising, flail chest, cardiac tamponade, pulmonary artery tears, ventricular rupture, shock, and bronchial, tracheal, or esophageal tears or rupture.
Other causes
Drugs
Galactorrhea can be caused by psychotropic agents, particularly phenothiazines and tricyclic antidepressants; some antihypertensives (reserpine and methyldopa); hormonal contraceptives; cimetidine; metoclopramide; and verapamil.
Surgery
Chest wall surgery may stimulate the thoracic nerves, causing intermittent bilateral galactorrhea.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses, 2007
Nipple retraction:
Medical causes
(Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses)
Breast abscess
A breast abscess, most common in breast-feeding women, occasionally produces unilateral nipple retraction. More common findings include high fever with chills; breast pain, erythema, and tenderness; breast induration or soft mass; and cracked, sore nipples, possibly with purulent discharge.
Breast cancer
With breast cancer, unilateral nipple retraction is commonly accompanied by a hard, fixed, nontender nodule beneath the areola, as well as other breast nodules. Other nipple changes include itching, burning, erosion, and watery or bloody discharge. Breast changes commonly include dimpling, altered contour, peau d’orange, ulceration, tenderness (possibly pain), redness, and warmth. Axillary lymph nodes may be enlarged.
Mammary duct ectasia
Nipple retraction commonly occurs in mammary duct ectasia, along with a poorly defined, rubbery nodule beneath the areola, with a blue-green skin discoloration; areolar burning, itching, swelling, tenderness, and erythema; and nipple pain with a thick, sticky, grayish, multiductal discharge.
Mastitis
Nipple retraction, deviation, cracking, or flattening may occur in mastitis, along with a firm and indurated or tender, flocculent, discrete breast nodule; warmth; erythema; tenderness; and edema. Fatigue, high fever, and chills may also be present.
Other causes
Surgery
Previous breast surgery may cause underlying scarring and retraction.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses, 2007
Nipple discharge:
Medical causes
(Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms)
Breast abscess.Breast abscess may produce a thick, purulent discharge from a cracked nipple or infected duct. Associated findings include an abrupt onset of a high fever with chills; breast pain, tenderness, and erythema; a palpable soft nodule or generalized induration; and possibly, nipple retraction.
Breast cancer.Breast cancer may cause bloody, watery, or purulent discharge from a normal-appearing nipple. Characteristic findings include a hard, irregular, fixed lump; erythema; dimpling; peau d'orange; changes in contour; nipple deviation, flattening, or retraction; axillary lymphadenopathy; and, possibly, breast pain.
Choriocarcinoma.Galactorrhea (a white or grayish milky discharge) may result from this highly malignant neoplasm, which can follow pregnancy. Other characteristics include persistent uterine bleeding and bogginess after delivery or curettage and vaginal masses.
Intraductal papilloma.Intraductal papilloma is the primary cause of nipple discharge in the nonpregnant, non–breast-feeding woman. Unilateral serous, serosanguineous, or bloody nipple discharge—usually from only one duct—is its predominant sign. Discharge may be intermittent or profuse and constant and can usually be stimulated by gentle pressure around the areola. Subareolar nodules, breast pain, and tenderness may occur.
Mammary duct ectasia.A thick, sticky, grayish discharge from multiple ducts may be the first sign of mammary duct ectasia. The discharge may be bilateral and is usually spontaneous. Other findings include a rubbery, poorly delineated lump beneath the areola, with a blue-green discoloration of the overlying skin; nipple retraction; and redness, swelling, tenderness, and burning pain in the areola and nipple.
Paget's disease.With Paget's disease, serous or bloody discharge emits from denuded skin on the nipple, which is red, intensely itchy and, possibly, eroded or excoriated. The discharge is usually unilateral.
Prolactin-secreting pituitary tumor.Bilateral galactorrhea may occur with prolactin-secreting pituitary tumor. Other findings include amenorrhea, infertility, decreased libido and vaginal secretions, headaches, and blindness.
Proliferative (fibrocystic) breast disease.Proliferative breast disease occasionally causes a bilateral clear, milky, or straw-colored discharge, which is rarely purulent or bloody. Multiple round, soft, tender nodules are usually palpable in both breasts, although they may occur singly. Usually, nodules are mobile and are located in the upper outer quadrant. Nodule size, tenderness, and discharge increase during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Symptoms then regress after menses.
Other causes
Drugs.Galactorrhea can be caused by psychotropic agents, particularly phenothiazines and tricyclic antidepressants; some antihypertensives (such as reserpine and methyldopa); hormonal contraceptives; cimetidine; metoclopramide; and verapamil.
Surgery.Chest wall surgery may stimulate the thoracic nerves, causing intermittent bilateral galactorrhea.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms, 2007
Nipple retraction:
Medical causes
(Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms)
Breast abscess.Breast abscess occasionally produces unilateral nipple retraction. More common findings include a high fever with chills; breast pain, erythema, and tenderness; breast induration or a soft mass; and cracked, sore nipples, possibly with a purulent discharge.
Breast cancer.With breast cancer, unilateral nipple retraction is commonly accompanied by a hard, fixed, nontender nodule beneath the areola as well as other breast nodules. Other nipple changes include itching, burning, erosion, and watery or bloody discharge. Breast changes commonly include dimpling, altered contour, peau d'orange, ulceration, tenderness (possibly pain), redness, and warmth. Axillary lymph nodes may be enlarged.
Mammary duct ectasia.Nipple retraction commonly occurs along with a poorly defined, rubbery nodule beneath the areola, with a blue-green skin discoloration; areolar burning, itching, swelling, tenderness, and erythema; and nipple pain with a thick, sticky, grayish, multiductal discharge.
Mastitis.Nipple retraction, deviation, cracking, or flattening may occur in mastitis with a firm and indurated or tender, flocculent, discrete breast nodule; warmth; erythema; tenderness; and edema. Fatigue, high fevers, and chills may also be present.
Other causes
Surgery.Previous breast surgery may cause underlying scarring and retraction.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms, 2007
Breast Abscess:
Breast Abscess - risk factors
(The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult)
- In lactating teens, primiparity
- Gestational age >40 weeks
- Mastitis
Breast Abscess - pathophysiology
- Newborns:
- Trauma, breast hypertrophy from maternal estrogen, or compromised host defenses enable spread of bacteria that are often colonized in the nasopharynx and umbilicus.
- The bacteria and/or its toxin, in turn, cause(s) subcutaneous destruction and loculated pus formation.
- Adolescents/adults: Trauma (e.g., sexual manipulation, nipple rings, tight-fitting bras, incorrect latching during breast-feeding), contiguous spread of a local infection (e.g., mastitis, acne), or underlying structural abnormalities (e.g., mammary duct ectasia, epidermal cysts) cause breast tissue edema and destruction by bacteria and/or its toxin.
- When mastitis is associated with breast-feeding, the inflammation inhibits milk release. The stasis of milk, in turn, may allow for bacterial proliferation.
Breast Abscess - etiology
- Newborn infection: Staphylococcus aureus (most common), group A or B streptococcus, and Gram-negative enteric bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, salmonella species
- Adolescent/adult infection: Staphylococcus aureus (most common); Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Treponema pallidum are infrequent pathogens.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult, 2008
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