Medical Term for Axillary Abscess
The medical term for an abscess in the axillary region is simply "axillary abscess" - this is the standard clinical terminology used in medical literature and practice 1, 2, 3.
Clinical Context and Terminology
Axillary abscess is the precise anatomical descriptor that combines the location (axilla) with the pathology (abscess - a localized collection of pus). This term is universally recognized and requires no alternative medical terminology 1, 4.
Important Clinical Distinctions
When evaluating axillary abscesses, clinicians must differentiate between:
- Simple axillary abscess: Isolated bacterial infection requiring incision and drainage 1
- Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS): A chronic inflammatory condition presenting with recurrent axillary abscesses, draining sinus tracts, and scarring - this is NOT simply "recurrent boils" 5
- Complex abscesses: Those associated with underlying conditions like injection drug use, immunocompromise, or malignancy 6, 7
Critical Diagnostic Pitfall
The most important clinical distinction is recognizing hidradenitis suppurativa versus simple bacterial abscess 5. HS requires:
- Typical lesions (painful inflammatory nodules, abscesses, draining sinus tracts, scarring) 5
- Characteristic locations (axillae, groin, perianal, perineal, inframammary regions) 5
- Recurrent nature with repeated flares in the same anatomic region 5
- Bilateral axillary involvement strongly suggests HS over simple infection 5
Microbiology
Common causative organisms include:
- Staphylococcus aureus (most common, isolated in approximately 65% of cases) 1
- Anaerobic bacteria (found in 23% of cases, particularly in hidradenitis suppurativa) 1
- Community-acquired MRSA (increasingly common, especially in athletes and injection drug users) 4
- Streptococcus pyogenes (can cause complicated infections with venous thrombosis) 3
Management Implications
Simple incision and drainage alone is insufficient for hidradenitis suppurativa - this addresses only the acute abscess but not the underlying chronic inflammatory disease, leading to inevitable recurrence 5. HS requires prolonged antibiotic therapy, biologics (TNF-alpha inhibitors like adalimumab for moderate-to-severe disease), or wide surgical excision for definitive treatment 5.