Ectasia of the mammary ducts

This disease is mainly detected in women aged 40 to 45 years. Ectasia of the milk ducts (or plasmacytic mastitis, duct ectasia) is a pathological change in the mammary glands, which is determined by the expansion of the patency of the milk ducts, the location of which is the subareolar chest area.

The inner layer is usually lined with lipid, a group of natural organic compounds consisting of fats and fat-like compounds, and detritus, a granular mass formed during the process of disintegration into small particles of necrotic matter.

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Causes ductal ectasia of the breast

Ectasia (ectasia, ectasis) is a dilation of the canal. This pathology itself does not pose a danger to a woman, but it requires constant attention. With the natural functioning of the body, even during the period when she is not breastfeeding, a small amount of mother's milk is still produced. It's just that along the duct, before reaching the exit from the canal, the substance is absorbed, and visually no discharge or other symptoms are observed.

Causes of mammary duct ectasia:

• An age factor that influences the structural and configurational transformation of the milk ducts, which are located in the protruding pigmented zone localized around the nipple. Most often manifests itself during menopause, as well as at the initial stage of entering the climacteric period.
• Hormonal imbalances in the female body, which directly affect the proliferation of epithelial cells in the female breast. As a result, "clogging" of milk ducts with sclerotically altered epithelial cells is observed. Most often, the cause of clogging is increased production of prolactin in the woman's body.
• Deformation of the milk ducts due to injury.
• Inflammatory processes of various origins.
• Cancerous tumor.

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Symptoms ductal ectasia of the breast

This pathology is related to clinically well expressed diseases, which facilitates its diagnosis. The main symptoms of ectasia of the ducts of the mammary gland:

• When palpating the breasts of women, this mainly applies to those aged 40-50 years, one can feel noticeable tissue compactions in the areola area.
• Atypical discharge may be observed from the nipple. The shade of the substance may be greenish-yellow or brown, almost black.
• A woman may feel a burning sensation and an irresistible desire to relieve irritation and itching.
• The skin around the areola of the nipple is hyperemic, there is slight swelling and tissue tension.
• The nipple, being in tension, is drawn in.
• There are painful symptoms in the chest area.
• Nipple retraction (displacement).

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Diagnostics ductal ectasia of the breast

Ectasia itself does not cause much harm to a woman’s body, but the discomfort caused by the symptoms of the pathology does not add peace to her life.

Diagnosis of ductal ectasia of the mammary gland is not very difficult and consists of several stages:

Analysis of patient complaints.

• Visual examination of the breast, screening of the anamnesis.
• Purpose of microscopic examination of nipple discharge.
• Seals are differentiated as either benign (polyps or papillomas in the duct) or malignant tumors. Excisional biopsy allows to confirm or exclude cancer.
• Mammography, a non-invasive method of examining the mammary gland using ionizing radiation, will help determine structural changes in the milk ducts.
• If necessary, an X-ray is prescribed.

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Treatment ductal ectasia of the breast

The main goal of therapy is to stop the cause of pathological changes. If the prescribed treatment is ineffective or the primary source is not determined, then surgical intervention is prescribed. Treatment of ectasia of the milk ducts is a local excision of the inflammatory area, in rare, especially severe cases, surgical intervention also affects the subareolar milk ducts, which also have to be removed.

Excision is a surgical operation that involves excision of pathologically transformed areas of a functioning system. In this case, epithelial tissue and subareolar canals. The excised material is necessarily sent for histological examination to differentiate the pathology into benign or cancerous neoplasms.

Excision is usually performed under general anesthesia, less often a local anesthetic is used. The incision is made along the natural folds of the skin formations. To make the postoperative scar barely noticeable, the surgeon usually sutures the wound with atraumatic sutures.

This method of treatment is used in the absence of concomitant diseases, as well as if the woman does not plan to become a mother and breastfeed her baby in the future.

Gentle therapy is a drug complex that includes a warm compress on the chest area, antibiotics and antibacterial drugs designed to relieve inflammation.

Indomethacin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug administered after meals with a starting dose of 0.025 g two to three times a day. If the patient tolerates the drug well and there is a medical need, the amount of indomethacin is increased to 0.1 - 0.15 g daily, divided into two to three doses. This drug is a long-term drug. The duration of the course of treatment is prescribed and monitored by the attending physician.

The medicine is strictly contraindicated in case of ulcerative lesions of the mucous membrane of the digestive tract, in case of bronchial asthma or hypersensitivity of the patient's body to the components of the drug. It is not recommended for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Cefuroxime is an antimicrobial and antiparasitic drug belonging to the cephalosporin group. The drug is administered by injection into a muscle or vein. The daily dosage of the drug is 0.75 g. The injection is given at intervals of eight hours. If necessary, the dosage can be increased to 1.5 g, reducing the interval to six hours, and the daily amount of cefuroxime can be increased to 3-6 grams.

The drug should not be prescribed in case of individual hypersensitivity to penicillin and/or cephalosporin antibiotics. Use with special caution during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Fusidin sodium. The drug is prescribed orally with three times a day in a dose of 0.5 - 1 g (washed down with a sufficient amount of water or milk). The drug has no special contraindications except for increased individual intolerance to the components, and it should not be taken during pregnancy and lactation.

It would also be useful to include immunomodulatory drugs in the treatment protocol, which support the woman’s body in the “fight” against the disease.

Immunal is prescribed at 20 drops, applied with a small volume of liquid three times during the day. In the acute stage of the disease, the dosage can be doubled. After receiving a therapeutic response, return to the initial dosage. The duration of the course of therapy is from one to eight weeks. This parameter is determined by the attending physician.

Contraindications include, in addition to individual intolerance to the components of the drug, tuberculosis, rheumatism and rheumatoid arthritis, leukemia, collagenoses, multiple sclerosis, and a tendency to allergic reactions.

Timalin is used as intramuscular injections. Before the injection, the contents of the ampoule are diluted with 1-2 ml of isotonic sodium chloride solution. The administered dosage is prescribed by the doctor individually and is in the range of 5 to 20 mg of the drug. The entire course is from 30 to 100 mg. The duration of administration is from three to ten days - this parameter depends on the severity of immune disorders.

Prevention

It is hard to argue with the saying that "it is easier to prevent a disease than to treat it later." Prevention of ductal ectasia of the mammary gland involves actions that allow protecting the woman's body from the effects of pathological factors that can catalyze the disease, which is the primary cause of ectasia.

• This includes mandatory regular self-examination of the mammary glands. It would not be superfluous to learn self-control from the age of 17. As sad as it may sound, but in recent years the pathology has noticeably "grown younger"
• It is worth undergoing an examination by a mammologist at least once a year, who, if necessary, will not only examine the patient, but also refer her for a mammogram or ultrasound examination.
• It is necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle and give up bad habits.
• Monitor your weight, because extra pounds add significant problems.
• Protect your chest from shock and injury.
• A woman's diet should be complete.
• Monitor the normalization of hormonal levels, preventing their disruption.
• Be very careful when taking various medications.
• Inflammatory and infectious diseases should not be neglected; they must be treated promptly and completely.
• To avoid the occurrence of wounds and cracks during breastfeeding, nipples must be prepared for this process even during pregnancy.
• One should not forget about the sanitary and hygienic requirements for the cleanliness of the mammary glands.
• Pay special attention to underwear. The bra should be comfortable, preferably made of natural materials. It should not rub or squeeze.
• If you notice any negative symptoms, you should see a doctor without delay.

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Forecast

The prognosis of ectasia of the ducts of the mammary gland largely depends on the implementation of all preventive recommendations, allowing to diagnose the disease at an early stage of its development. If a woman monitors herself and her health and in case of discomfort in the chest area immediately seeks help from a doctor - a mammologist, who will promptly conduct adequate therapy, then we can talk about a favorable prognosis of ectasia of the ducts of the mammary gland.

If the nipple discharges clear or milky, then in case of timely effective drug therapy, one can predict a complete recovery without hesitation. If the secreted substance has a yellowish-green tint or brownish tones, then urgent diagnostic measures and therapeutic therapy are necessary. In this case, a successful prognosis directly depends on the factor of timely medical intervention.

The most unpleasant in terms of prognosis are cases of hemorrhagic (with blood) discharge, which are side symptoms of malignant pathology. In this situation, everything depends on the stage of development of the oncological disease, its localization, the volume of involved cellular structures, the presence of metastases and the extent of their spread, the possibility of surgical intervention.

The breast is an organ consisting mainly of glandular cells and its main function, laid down by nature, is to produce milk and feed the newborn, but if discharge is observed outside the lactation period, this fact should not be ignored. It is especially dangerous to engage in self-diagnosis and self-medication. Timely contact with a specialist will help to cope with the disease faster, keep your beautiful breasts intact, and in some cases it may be about the life of a woman, who at the moment may be "hanging by a thread."

It should not be forgotten that everything can be cured! A positive result primarily depends on the fair sex herself: how attentive she is to her body, how early she allowed specialists to examine her and how much she believes in recovery. Ectasia of the mammary gland ducts, effectively stopped at the very beginning of progression, in combination with the implementation of all the doctor's recommendations and preventive measures in everyday life - and the disease is gone, and the risk of recurrence of the pathology is significantly reduced.

Love yourself and your body – and it will serve you “without failures” for many years to come!

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