Radical treatment of recurrent breast fistulae

Breast fistula, presenting usually as a chronic discharge, is an uncommon disease. The recommended treatment is either radical excision of the entire fistulous tract and primary closure, or wide incision and drainage leaving the affected area to heal secondarily. Failure to recognize the disease or inappropriate surgical treatment may lead to recurrence and formation of a network of fistulae. We present our experience of 12 patients with breast fistulae, 4 of whom had long histories of multiple recurrences. These patients required an unconventional surgical approach to eradicate the disease.