A study of post-menopausal breast abscesses in West Africa

Abstract EN

It is acknowledged that the highest incidence of breast abscess occurs in lactating women.

Methods ; Between February 1970 and February 2000, 215 females with suspected breast abscess were biopsied by 97 doctors working in 34 hospitals attended by patients of the Igbo or Ibo ethnic group in Nigeria, West Africa.

Their data were retrieved and analyzed.

Results : their ages ranged from 11 to 78 years, averaged 40.5 years and peaked between 31 and 40 years.

Breast abscess was seen in 53 of them.

Conclusion : breast abscess is common (22.3 %) in post-menopausal Igbo patients aged over 50 years.