Wani I, Naikoo G, Wani RA, Wani MA. Subareolar breast abscess in males. World J Methodol 2026; 16(2): 114950 [DOI: 10.5662/wjm.v16.i2.114950]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Imtiaz Wani, MD, Department of General Surgery, Government Gousia Hospital, Srinagar, Kashmir 190004, Jammu and Kashmīr, India. imtazwani@gmail.com
Research Domain of This Article
Surgery
Article-Type of This Article
Retrospective Study
Open-Access Policy of This Article
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World J Methodol. Jun 20, 2026; 16(2): 114950 Published online Jun 20, 2026. doi: 10.5662/wjm.v16.i2.114950
Subareolar breast abscess in males
Imtiaz Wani, Gulam Naikoo, Rauf A Wani, Munir A Wani
Imtiaz Wani, Department of General Surgery, Government Gousia Hospital, Kashmir 190004, Jammu and Kashmīr, India
Gulam Naikoo, Department of Surgery, SMHS Hospital, Srinagar 190001, Jammu and Kashmīr, India
Rauf A Wani, Munir A Wani, Department of Surgery, Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar 190005, Jammu and Kashmīr, India
Author contributions: Wani I contributed to wrote the main manuscript text, performed data collection, data analyses, and literature review, wrote the main manuscript text and edited the manuscript; Naikoo G contributed to helped in writing, and approving the final manuscript; Wani RA and Wani MA contributed to approved final manuscript; All author has the idea of the research, writing, and approving the final manuscript.
Institutional review board statement: In view of retrospective nature of study, approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee was exempted.
Informed consent statement: Informed consent and data use authorization was obtained from the included patients.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest to disclose.
Data sharing statement: The data that support the findings of this study are not openly available due to reasons of sensitivity and are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Corresponding author: Imtiaz Wani, MD, Department of General Surgery, Government Gousia Hospital, Srinagar, Kashmir 190004, Jammu and Kashmīr, India. imtazwani@gmail.com
Received: October 11, 2025 Revised: November 1, 2025 Accepted: January 21, 2026 Published online: June 20, 2026 Processing time: 203 Days and 2 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Subareolar breast abscess is extremely rare in males. Only a few cases of male breast abscess are reported in the literature till date. The clinical presentation of male breast include pain, periareolar swelling, tenderness and abscess formation.
AIM
To study occurrence of subareolar breast abscess in males.
METHODS
A retrospective study of 11 males from April 2014 to July 2024 is reported who presented with subareolar breast abscess.
RESULTS
Nine cases had uncomplicated and idiopathic abscess, and one has diabetes and another has underlying carcinoma breast. Incision drainage was done in 7 cases and one who has underlying carcinoma was managed by local toilet and antibiotics whereas rest two had needle aspiration for pus and other two had conservative treatment by antibiotics only. Pus culture predominantly yielded growth of Staphylococus.
CONCLUSION
Subareolar breast abscess is rare in males. Incision and drainage is treatment of choice in an uncomplicated cases.
Core Tip: Subareolar breast abscess is extremely rare in males. Most of cases are of simple abscess. Male breast is usually unilateral. The site of occurrence of breast abscess is usually outer quadrant of breast. Painful swelling of breast is a common manifestation. The Staphylococcus are main causative agents of male breast abscess. Clinical diagnosis with ultrasound of breast is suffice for diagnosis of male breast abscess. Fine needle aspiration cytology is helpful in diagnosis. Incision and drainage is treatment of choice in an uncomplicated cases.
