Cystic breast mastitis

Dyshormonal disease, accompanied by excessive proliferation of tissues with the formation of cysts - is a cystic breast mastitis.

The disease is typical for women 30-50 years of age.

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10]

Causes of the cystic mastopathy of the breast

The development of cystic mastopathy is associated with a large number of provoking factors. This is a heredity, ecology, nutrition and other reasons, in varying degrees affecting the hormonal background of women.

Most often the development of mastopathy is observed with a combination of such factors. Let's analyze the main ones:

1. Disorders of childbearing function. Cystic mastopathy occurs more often in patients who are unable to conceive a child, or after frequent abortions, menstrual irregularities. Affected by the disease and those women who did not breastfeed, or fed, but not for long (up to 5 months).
2. Absence of sexual relations, dissatisfaction in the sexual sphere, rejection of sex.
3. Psychological discomfort. Frequent stresses, conflict situations, psycho-emotional outbursts and hysteria contribute to hormonal imbalance and, as a consequence, the development of mastopathy.
4. Metabolic disorders: excess weight, diabetes, hyperthyroidism.
5. Long-lasting diseases of the reproductive system: salpingoophoritis, endometritis, cysts of appendages, etc.
6. Hereditary predisposition.
7. Incorrect lifestyle: chronic fatigue, little time for sleep, overeating, inadequate dietary fiber, hard diets.

[11], [12], [13], [14]

Symptoms of the cystic mastopathy of the breast

The main manifestations of the disease are:

• tenderness of the breast - dull, aching, accompanied by a feeling of heaviness and a general uncomfortable condition. It can build up a few days before menstruation, arise at some points, or bother constantly. Soreness can be greatly enhanced by pressing or even touching the gland;
• zones of compaction in the chest - usually do not have clear outlines and can be determined by a woman alone when feeling the breast;
• discharge from the milk ducts - they can be seen if you press on the nipple zone. Allocations can be the most diverse (light, dark, purulent), depending on the neglect of the condition and scale of the pathology;
• palpation of the lymph nodes in the axillary region is not observed in all, only 1 10% of patients, but this symptom should also be noted.

Such signs are not necessarily present all at once: sometimes the disease is limited to one or two symptoms.

In addition to the above signs, there may be an increase in the size of one or two glands: they are sensitive and painful to the touch. This is associated with the swelling of the chest, which appears depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle, which is due to an increase in the level of hormones in the blood.

Along with this, pain in the head, edema in the legs and body, dyspeptic phenomena, a disturbance of the psychoemotional state (irritability, inadequate reactions like premenstrual manifestations) can be present. From the first days of the monthly cycle, such signs are usually docked.

[15], [16], [17], [18]

Forms

Fibrous-cystic mastopathy of mammary glands

Consider the differences between cystic and fibrocystic mastopathy.

Cystic mastopathy is accompanied by the appearance of a different number of unique nodes with liquid contents - cysts, with clear contours and a soft structure. The appearance of cysts is accompanied by soreness, especially immediately before the onset of critical days.

In the fibrocystic form of mastopathy, excessive growth of connective tissue is observed, which contributes to the appearance of multiple small cystic tumors. This form is accompanied by a chaotic arrangement of cysts, besides they can appear on both glands simultaneously. Cysts contain a clear fluid, but not always puncture is possible: often the formation is too small, and getting into them with a needle is quite difficult.

Soreness of the mammary glands can spread to the upper limbs, shoulders, armpits.

[19], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24], [25], [26], [27]

Diagnostics of the cystic mastopathy of the breast

It is desirable to carry out a breast examination from 4 to 12 days of the monthly cycle, because on other days, due to the natural physiological processes occurring in the mammary gland, there is a risk of erroneous diagnosis.

The initial diagnosis of cystic mastopathy consists of an external examination of the breast. The doctor pays attention to the color of the skin, the shape of the chest, the differences between healthy and affected breasts. Then the doctor proceeds to feel the chest, first in the vertical, and then in the horizontal position. In addition to the chest, the axillary region is also felt to determine the condition of the lymph nodes.

Ultrasound is the next step in correct diagnosis. Harmless, but sufficiently informative method, determining the state of epithelial tissue and providing the opportunity to simultaneously explore and the nearest lymph nodes.

Mammography is also a very common procedure for the type of X-ray examination: a picture of the gland is made showing whether there are tumors in this area. True, this method is undesirable for women under 40 years old, as well as pregnant and nursing patients.

Often with mastopathy, a diagnostic puncture is prescribed, which can be used for therapeutic purposes. With a thin needle, the cystic contents are sucked off, after which the walls of the cavity are glued together, and the cyst gradually dissolves.

Isolations from milky channels are also subjected to cytological analysis.

After setting and confirming the diagnosis, the doctor begins to develop a treatment regimen for mastopathy.

[28], [29], [30], [31]

Treatment of the cystic mastopathy of the breast

Treatment of cystic mastopathy consists of several stages.

1. Changing the principles of nutrition. Numerous studies have shown that to reduce pain and swelling of the mammary glands it is important to exclude from the diet products that provoke fibrous tissue growth and the formation of fluid contents in the cyst. These products include strong tea, coffee, chocolate products, beverages such as cola or Pepsi. In addition, many experts associate the appearance of diseases of the mammary glands with poor functioning of the intestine: constipation, a violation of the bacterial flora. In this regard, doctors recommend that when eating mastopathy, they should mainly eat foods rich in fiber (fruit, vegetable dishes, seasoned with herbs), and drink at least 1.5 liters of water per day. It is necessary to limit the use of alcohol and fatty foods - foods that negatively affect the hormonal level.
2. The correct selection of laundry. Those patients who often suffer from mastopathy, experts recommend paying attention to the selection of a bra, taking into account all the parameters of the breast. The wrong shape and size of the cups can squeeze the chest, deform it. This is especially true for those who have a large size of the mammary glands.
3. Vitaminotherapy. It is prescribed to normalize the level of hormones, strengthen immunity, normalize the function of the endocrine system. Particularly important is the intake of B vitamins, as well as A, E and ascorbic acid.
4. Appointment of diuretics. Often mastopathy is combined with edema, both the breast and extremities, which requires the appointment of light diuretics. In this situation, it is better to use diuretic teas based on herbs, and also to exclude or sharply limit the amount of salt in the diet.
5. The appointment of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (diclofenac, nise). They help to fight the pain syndrome, which especially grows before critical days. Do not use such drugs for a long time.
6. The appointment of sedatives. Such funds are prescribed to combat stress, which is one of the factors contributing to the development of mastopathy. Use preparations of valerian or motherwort, sedative teas and infusions.
7. Hormonal treatment. Undoubtedly, the development and functions of the breast are impossible without the action of a number of hormones. First of all, these are estrogens and progesterone. However, sometimes the effect of these hormones becomes excessive, which leads to abnormal growth of some gland tissues. In order to reduce their effects, the so-called antihormones are prescribed - drugs that reduce the bioactivity of estrogens. These drugs include toremifene and tamoxifen. For the same purpose, oral contraceptives (Janine, Marvelon) can be used that suppress the production of steroids, androgens, estrogens, stabilizing significant changes in the hormone level in the body. However, not in all cases of cystic mastopathy, contraceptives work effectively, so sometimes the doctor has to revise such an appointment. The doctor can prescribe gestagens - preparations of progesterone (morning, dyufast, etc.), which restrain the growth of cystic education with subsequent gradual regression. In addition, often prescribed antiprolactin (parlodel), androgens (methyltestosterone), antagonists of gonadotropin (zoladex, buserelin).
8. Homeopathic therapy. A lot of homeopathic remedies deserve success in the treatment of cystic mastopathy: they effectively reduce the amount of prolactin, with no side effects and virtually no contraindications. These drugs include remens, cyclodinone, mastodinone.
9. Appointment of iodine preparations for thyroid dysfunction. Of course, such drugs are effective in hypothyroidism, but can not be prescribed for autoimmune thyroiditis or thyrotoxicosis. Among these drugs can be identified iodomarin and mamoklam.
10. Surgical treatment of cystic mastopathy is prescribed in the absence of effectiveness from drug treatment, or if a suspected development of oncological pathology.

Of course, the choice of treatment can depend on many features, both the patient and the course of the disease. Therefore, do not make a decision about treatment yourself: trust a good specialist.

Prevention

As a preventive measure of cystic mastopathy, the following rules should be adhered to:

• Do not overexert yourself physically or mentally - just rest, sleep, avoid psycho-emotional conflicts and quarrels;
• to revise the diet (to consume useful food, rich in vitamins and fiber, not to drink alcohol, smoked meat, salinity, fatty foods and fast food);
• to establish a sex life;
• To reconsider the wardrobe: to get rid of uncomfortable and synthetic linen, giving advantage to soft and comfortable bras from natural fabrics;
• periodically visit a gynecologist for examination of the condition of the mammary glands and the reproductive system as a whole;
• to struggle with superfluous weight - provoking factor of disorder of metabolic processes in an organism.

[32], [33]

Forecast

The prognosis of cystic mastopathy of the breast is more often favorable. But if the disease is not treated, then it progresses over time, especially after 30 years. Of course, the earlier the treatment is started, the better the prognosis will be.

Cystic mastopathy of the breast can be a harbinger of a more dangerous pathology - breast cancer. For this reason, treatment should begin on time and, importantly, bring it to the end, following the recommendations of a qualified doctor. Only in this way will you preserve the health of your breasts and prevent more serious diseases.

[34], [35], [36]