{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,27]],"date-time":"2025-08-27T20:10:07Z","timestamp":1756325407541,"version":"3.44.0"},"reference-count":15,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"3","content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Case Rep"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,25]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,3]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>A woman in her 50s with a background of sarcoidosis and coeliac disease developed axillary web syndrome (AWS) following an axillary abscess. Initially presenting with a red, tender lesion in the right axilla, she was treated with flucloxacillin, which resolved the abscess. Nine days later, she experienced axillary \u2018stringing\u2019, prompting a diagnosis of AWS. Clinical examination revealed no residual abscess or lump. Management included non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and heat therapy combined with stretching and topical massage, leading to symptom improvement. This case highlights AWS as a potential complication of axillary infections and emphasises the critical role of early recognition in primary care. AWS is a self-limited syndrome; however, timely diagnosis and appropriate management can aid in preventing prolonged symptoms, improving patient outcomes and minimising unnecessary investigations and patient stress.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1136\/bcr-2025-264816","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,13]],"date-time":"2025-03-13T08:06:05Z","timestamp":1741853165000},"page":"e264816","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Axillary web syndrome following axillary abscess: clinical diagnosis and management"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"18","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-3929-8904","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ioannis","family":"Saxionis","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"General Practice, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-5334-4685","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Bhargav","family":"Raut","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"General Practice, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"2025082712332727000_18.3.e264816.1","first-page":"13","article-title":"Axillary web syndrome following breast cancer surgery: symptoms, complications, and management strategies","volume":"11","author":"Koehler","year":"2019","journal-title":"Breast Cancer (Dove Med Press)"},{"key":"2025082712332727000_18.3.e264816.2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"287","DOI":"10.1089\/lrb.2017.0037","article-title":"Vascular Alterations in Axillary and Brachial Vessels in Patients with Axillary Web Syndrome After Breast Cancer Surgery","volume":"16","author":"Furlan","year":"2018","journal-title":"Lymphat Res Biol"},{"key":"2025082712332727000_18.3.e264816.3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"576","DOI":"10.1007\/s11764-015-0435-1","article-title":"A systematic review of axillary web syndrome (AWS)","volume":"9","author":"Yeung","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Cancer Surviv"},{"key":"2025082712332727000_18.3.e264816.4","first-page":"868","article-title":"Physiotherapeutic treatment for axillary cord formation following breast cancer surgery","volume":"59","author":"Josenhans","year":"2007","journal-title":"Pt Zeitschrift F\u00fcr Physiotherapeuten"},{"key":"2025082712332727000_18.3.e264816.5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3390\/healthcare11172390","article-title":"A Case of Axillary Web Syndrome Caused by Venous Blood Sampling","volume":"11","author":"Kitajima","year":"2023","journal-title":"Healthcare (Basel)"},{"key":"2025082712332727000_18.3.e264816.6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"314","DOI":"10.1684\/ejd.2016.2762","article-title":"Axillary web syndrome following granulomatous inflammation after folliculitis","volume":"26","author":"Zhang","year":"2016","journal-title":"Eur J Dermatol"},{"key":"2025082712332727000_18.3.e264816.7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e119","DOI":"10.1016\/j.amjmed.2023.01.039","article-title":"Idiopathic Axillary Web Syndrome","volume":"136","author":"Siddiqui","year":"2023","journal-title":"Am J Med"},{"key":"2025082712332727000_18.3.e264816.8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3000605231152384","DOI":"10.1177\/03000605231152384","article-title":"Occurrence of axillary web syndrome without surgical intervention: a case report","volume":"51","author":"Alharazy","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Int Med Res"},{"key":"2025082712332727000_18.3.e264816.9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"68","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rh.2019.10.002","article-title":"S\u00edndrome axillary web idiop\u00e1tico","volume":"54","author":"Puentes Guti\u00e9rrez","year":"2020","journal-title":"Rehabilitaci\u00f3n"},{"key":"2025082712332727000_18.3.e264816.10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"66","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejrad.2019.02.001","article-title":"Review of axillary web syndrome: What the radiologist should know","volume":"113","author":"Mullen","year":"2019","journal-title":"Eur J Radiol"},{"key":"2025082712332727000_18.3.e264816.11","first-page":"164","article-title":"Identification and description of the axillary web syndrome (AWS) by clinical signs, MRI and US imaging","volume":"47","author":"Leduc","year":"2014","journal-title":"Lymphology"},{"key":"2025082712332727000_18.3.e264816.12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s10549-011-1805-7"},{"key":"2025082712332727000_18.3.e264816.13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Koehler LA , Zuther J , Norton S . 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