The pattern of surgical breast disease in Korea may be different to that of the Western countries. In our particular situation, it has been believed that suppurative disease of the breast ought to be considered into as one of the so called "Big Three"; dysplasia, fibroadenoma and carcinoma.
Following advent of antibiotic, improved maternal hygine and nursing, the incidence of breast abscess has decreased, however, it is not so low as we expected.
The purpose of the present article is present a clinical and epidemiological review on 585 cases of suppurative disease of female breast treated at Surgical Department of Ehwa Womans University. Hospital from September, 1962 to August, 1970.
Analysis of these cases provided the following results.
1) The incidence of acute mastitis and abscess to the total number of hospital delivery for period of rangingg from 1962 to 1972 was 0.35%. This figure represented a higher incidence. comparing. that of Western countries.
2) The peak incidence was in the age Group 21 to 30, and its number of patients was 380 cases. (65%). The extreme of age was represented by age of 3 days and 64 years old.
3) The seaseonal distribution showed that the disease was more prevalent in winter season. Comparative statistics for the 10 years suggested that the disease had been gradually decreasing in the first 5 years period and then increased in the later 5 year period.
4) There was no predilection between the right and left breast, however, the incidence of bilateral involvment was quite high and its percentage was 13.9%.
5) The disease was more frequently occured in primipara (39%) than multipara (25%). Along. the subsequent parity it was decreased in number. There was no strict correlation between the incidence of breast abscess and educational status.
6) According to 165 cases whose bacteriological surveies were available staphylococcus aureus was
the most predominating organism, about 90%, and 85% of this organism was resistant to penicillin.
7) In 206 cases of acute mastitis, conservative management including antibiotic were usually perf
ormed unless they were suppurated. Incision and drainage combined with antibiotic gave good result
for the full blown abscess. Average duration of treatment after surgery require-t13 nays for recovery. 8) The pathogenesis and etiology were followed of many cases of mastitis. A craked nipple pres-
umablly´ provided an entry for the infection. It ,was not uncommon to be able to trace an infection to akin pustules or to a paronychia in the baby.
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