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Ethanol Sclerotherapy for Postoperative Seroma of the Breast and Axilla.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Smith, CB; Baker, JA; Yoon, SC; Lowell, DA; Grimm, L
Published in: J Breast Imaging
March 20, 2023

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the effectiveness of alcohol sclerotherapy in postoperative breast and axillary seromas. METHODS: This was an IRB-approved retrospective review of consecutive patients from 2017 to 2021. The procedure involves aspiration of seroma fluid, injection of ethanol for 15 to 30 minutes, and then aspiration of the injected ethanol. Following review of the medical record, patient and procedure data were recorded. Success was defined as no recurrence of seroma. Statistical analysis was performed using a chi-square or t-test, as appropriate. RESULTS: Twenty seromas were treated in 19 patients (mean age, 63 years; range, 49-79) following mastectomy (9/20, 45%), lumpectomy (25%, 5/20), axillary nodal dissection (5/20, 25%), or chest wall surgery (1/20, 5%). The mean seroma volume was 146 ± 165 mL. There was a mean of 1.4 prior aspiration attempts (range, 0-3). Mean injected ethanol volume was 39 mL (range, 8-60 mL) for a mean of 26 ± 5 minutes. Seromas recurred in 85% (17/20) of cases, and repeat aspiration was performed in 35% (6/17). The mean recurrence time was 34 ± 29 days. The recurrent seromas were 31% smaller (mean, 80 ± 48 mL). Only a smaller pre-ablation seroma was associated with successful ablation (P < 0.01), as the mean pre-ablation volume was 36 ± 24 mL for successful ablations and 119 ± 56 mL for unsuccessful ablations. There were no post-procedural complications. CONCLUSION: Single-treatment ethanol sclerotherapy is typically unsuccessful in ablating breast and axillary seromas. Only a smaller pre-ablation seroma size was associated with successful ablation.

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Published In

J Breast Imaging

DOI

EISSN

2631-6129

Publication Date

March 20, 2023

Volume

5

Issue

2

Start / End Page

167 / 173

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Seroma
  • Sclerotherapy
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Middle Aged
  • Mastectomy
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Ethanol
  • Breast Neoplasms
  • Axilla
 

Citation

APA
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ICMJE
MLA
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Smith, C. B., Baker, J. A., Yoon, S. C., Lowell, D. A., & Grimm, L. (2023). Ethanol Sclerotherapy for Postoperative Seroma of the Breast and Axilla. J Breast Imaging, 5(2), 167–173. https://doi.org/10.1093/jbi/wbad001
Smith, Camron B., Jay A. Baker, Sora C. Yoon, Dorothy A. Lowell, and Lars Grimm. “Ethanol Sclerotherapy for Postoperative Seroma of the Breast and Axilla.J Breast Imaging 5, no. 2 (March 20, 2023): 167–73. https://doi.org/10.1093/jbi/wbad001.
Smith CB, Baker JA, Yoon SC, Lowell DA, Grimm L. Ethanol Sclerotherapy for Postoperative Seroma of the Breast and Axilla. J Breast Imaging. 2023 Mar 20;5(2):167–73.
Smith, Camron B., et al. “Ethanol Sclerotherapy for Postoperative Seroma of the Breast and Axilla.J Breast Imaging, vol. 5, no. 2, Mar. 2023, pp. 167–73. Pubmed, doi:10.1093/jbi/wbad001.
Smith CB, Baker JA, Yoon SC, Lowell DA, Grimm L. Ethanol Sclerotherapy for Postoperative Seroma of the Breast and Axilla. J Breast Imaging. 2023 Mar 20;5(2):167–173.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Breast Imaging

DOI

EISSN

2631-6129

Publication Date

March 20, 2023

Volume

5

Issue

2

Start / End Page

167 / 173

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Seroma
  • Sclerotherapy
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Middle Aged
  • Mastectomy
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Ethanol
  • Breast Neoplasms
  • Axilla