A Case of Abscess Formation after Radiofrequency Ablation for Early Breast Cancer

INTRODUCTION: Breast-conserving surgery with whole-breast irradiation is the standard local treatment for early-stage breast cancer. Recently, less invasive approaches have gained attention with advances in imaging and ablative technologies. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) induces thermal coagulative necrosis and has been explored as a potential alternative for selected small breast tumors, with favorable oncological and cosmetic outcomes reported. However, data regarding infectious complications remain limited. Because RFA creates devitalized tissue, secondary infection and abscess formation may occur. We report a rare case of delayed abscess formation after breast RFA that required surgical management.