Ultrasound-guided thermal ablation for the treatment of non-lactating mastitis: a Chinese multidisciplinary expert consensus (2025 edition)

Non-lactating mastitis is a group of benign, non-specific inflammatory diseases of unknown etiology that occur during the non-lactating period in women. Treatment is mainly based on drugs and surgery, but these two treatments have certain limitations and cannot meet the individual needs of patients. In recent years, thermal ablation technology has made significant progress in treating and researching breast diseases, especially in the exploratory thermal ablation treatment of non-lactating mastitis, which has achieved certain efficacy, but it is in the initial stage of development. To standardize the development and clinical practice, we have formulated the consensus. Seventy-three multidisciplinary experts from 48 tertiary-level hospitals carried out this work. The consensus formulation method (Delphi technique) was used to discuss and vote on the latest research advances, and formulated in light of the actual clinical situation in China. Multidisciplinary experts discussed the indications and contraindications of non-lactating mastitis thermal ablation therapy, standardization of intraoperative operation, management of postoperative complications, evaluation of therapeutic efficacy, and follow-up, and finally formed this consensus. Thermal ablation provides a new minimally invasive treatment option for non-lactating mastitis, but it is still in the process of clinical exploration, and prospective high-quality clinical studies with large samples are needed in the future. This consensus was developed to provide a reference for clinicians who are currently practicing this technique, but due to the limited number of cases and units, it will need to be revised and improved in future clinical practice. • Thermal ablation is a new minimally invasive treatment for NLM. • Consensus standardizes thermal ablation for non-lactating mastitis. • It outlines indications, procedures, and complication management. • Thermal ablation provides better cosmetic outcomes than surgery. • The consensus provides a new framework for NLM treatment.