To compare the clinical efficacy between hormone therapy and ultrasound-guided microwave ablation in treating non-lactating mastitis patients.

According to the inclusion and exclusion critieria, a retrospective analysis was conducted on 39 non-lactating mastitis patients admitted to the Guangdong North People's Hospital from January 2020 to March 2024. Patients were divided into two groups based on treatment methods： the hormone group （25 cases） and the ablation group （14 cases）. The hormone group received conventional glucocorticoids and oral compound scutellaria barbata， while the ablation group underwent ultrasound-guided microwave ablation and oral compound scutellaria barbata. The median follow-up time was 29 months， during which symptom relief rates， satisfaction rates and major adverse reactions were recorded. Inter-group comparisons of symptom relief rates and patient satisfaction rates were performed using Fisher's exact test， while degree of symptom relief， satisfaction levels and adverse reactions were compared using non-parametric tests.

The ablation group achieved a symptom relief rate of 85.7% （12/14）， significantly higher than 48.0% （12/25） in the hormone group （P=0.038）. No statistically significant difference was observed in degree of symptom relief between the two groups （Z=-1.612， P=0.104）. The ablation group demonstrated the patient satisfaction rate of 85.7% （12/14）， significantly higher than 44.0% （11/25） in the hormone group （P=0.017）. Statistical significance was found in the satisfaction levels between the two groups （Z=-2.208， P=0.043）. In the hormone group， adverse reactions include weight gain (19 cases), facial acne (17 cases), generalized rash (12 cases), and gastrointestinal adverse reactions (16 cases). In the ablation group， adverse reactions included swelling in the ablation area (6 cases), breast lumps (10 cases), skin ecchymosis in the ablation area (9 cases), and non-healing puncture sites (2 cases).

The ultrasound-guided microwave ablation combined with compound scutellaria barbata for non-lactating mastitis demonstrates shows a symptom relief similar to hormone therapy, but with higher patient satisfaction， worthy of clinical application.