A nodule in the breast

A node in the mammary gland is a new growth that indicates some disease or pathology of the body. Let's consider the main causes and types of nodes in the glands, methods of diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

[ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ]

Causes a nodule in the breast

The causes of a lump in the mammary gland are varied. The female mammary gland and reproductive organs are a single system that is designed for feeding and bearing a child. Based on this, any changes in the genitals affect the condition of the glands. Small seals, swelling and pain are felt during puberty and before the next menstruation. Let's consider the main causes of a lump in the breast in women:

• Premenstrual period.
• Diseases of the genitourinary system.
• Benign and malignant neoplasms.
• Climax.
• Breast-feeding.
• Mastitis.
• Physical trauma to the mammary glands or uterus.
• Use of hormonal drugs or stimulants.
• Regular wearing of a tight bra or corset.
• Infectious diseases.
• Increased secretion of estrogen.
• Thrombophlebitis.

Special attention should be paid to the mammary glands during pregnancy and lactation. Since it is during this period that the female breast is subject to serious changes. The level of hormones in the blood constantly fluctuates, and the milk flow causes swelling of the breast and painful sensations. Nodes also appear due to milk stagnation, cracks, inflammation or physical damage to the nipples. Nodes may indicate benign or malignant neoplasms that are not given importance in the initial stages. In this case, the nodes are quite painful upon palpation and are located in the deep tissues of the gland.

[ 6 ], [ 7 ]

Symptoms a nodule in the breast

Lumps or lumps in the mammary gland may appear and disappear, usually due to the hormonal background of the body. But in some cases, the appearance of a lump indicates the presence of a disease. Most often, lumps appear during the menstrual cycle, the glands increase in size, and painful sensations appear. Lumps are characterized by a small size and clear boundaries. In most cases, lump is a sign of mastopathy. Sometimes, when they appear, discharge comes from the nipples.

• Nodular seals very often occur during lactation. The reason for this phenomenon is milk stagnation due to irregular feeding of the child. But if the appearance of seals is accompanied by high temperature, painful sensations or weakness, then medical assistance is required. Such symptoms indicate mastitis, which develops 2-3 weeks after childbirth.
• A lump in the mammary gland may indicate cancer. This is typical for small nodes that gradually increase in size. In addition, bloody discharge from the nipples, changes in the color and structure of the breast are possible. Without timely medical care, seals can lead to amputation of the breast.

In some cases, neoplasms in the mammary gland are a sign of a disease that is accompanied by the formation of a localized structure in the tissues that differs in density from healthy tissue. The pathology is detected during breast self-examination. Nodes can be single or multiple, two-sided or one-sided, of various shapes. Seals can be a sign of the following pathologies:

• Fibroadenoma

The nodes are round in shape, firm to the touch, not fused with the skin and mobile.

• Breast cyst

Initially, cysts are defined as nodular formations of elastic and dense consistency. The size of cysts can be up to 3 cm and they are located superficially, easily determined by palpation.

• Abscess

During palpation, sharply painful purulent seals are determined. The skin above the formation is hyperemic, the lymphatic vessels are affected and increase in size.

• Lactocele

In this disease, nodes appear in peripheral nodes. The neoplasms have a soft elastic consistency, small size, are mobile upon palpation, and are painless.

• Subcutaneous benign nodes

Of the benign formations, the most common are atheromas and lipomas of various shapes, structures and sizes.

• Cancer

In case of cancerous lesions, the nodes have a dense structure and unclear outlines with a bumpy surface. The skin above the neoplasm changes, the structure of the nipple is subject to deformation.

• Leaf-shaped tumor

The node is large, painless on palpation, and soft in consistency. The skin over the formation is stretched and thinned.

• Intraductal papilloma

With this disease, nodes are not always detected during palpation. But if a papilloma appears in the main duct, it is felt when palpated as a loose nodular formation. The main symptom of the disease is bloody discharge from the nipple during palpation of the mammary gland.

In all cases of nodular formations in the breast, it is necessary to seek medical help and undergo additional examinations in order to determine the nature of the formation.

The symptoms of a lump in the mammary gland depend entirely on the cause of the neoplasm. If the lump appeared due to mastopathy, then painful sensations appear during palpation. Seals also appear in the premenstrual period, causing swelling of the mammary glands. But such nodes do not require medical treatment and should not cause concern, as they are regular in nature.

If the nodes appeared as a result of trauma and sharp pains or bloody discharge from the nipple occur during palpation, then this requires medical intervention. Since such nodular neoplasms can be malignant. Multiple small nodes, the size of a pea, can be determined during palpation. Such symptoms should cause concern and require medical attention. Serious concerns are caused by nodes that cause breast deformation, nipple depression, skin discoloration and are accompanied by purulent or bloody discharge.

Do not forget that the sooner the seals in the mammary gland are diagnosed, the sooner the treatment will begin and the higher the chances of stopping the pathology. Annual preventive examinations by a mammologist, surgeon and gynecologist will help to identify signs of diseases that are accompanied by nodes in the breast.

Forms

Breast Nodes in Men

Any changes in the mammary glands in men are caused by hormonal levels. The condition of the breast is affected by the hormones estrogens and androgens. With an excess or deficiency of these substances, gynecomastia develops, that is, a disproportionate increase in the mammary glands. Very often, this disease manifests itself during puberty. In addition, there are other reasons for breast enlargement in men:

• Cystic formations.
• Mastitis.
• Inflammatory tissue lesions.
• Tuberculosis, intraductal papillomas.
• Hormonal imbalance.
• Malignant and benign tumors.

At the same time, cancerous lesions of the mammary glands in men occur much less frequently than in women. According to statistics, malignant neoplasms appear in 1 out of 100,000 men. 2.

[ 8 ]

Breast Nodes in Children

The appearance of nodes in the chest in childhood is very rare. The characteristic swelling of the glands in newborns appears due to the influence of female hormones from the mother's body. Such a phenomenon does not require examination or treatment, since the changes pass on their own. The formation of nodes can be associated with premature puberty. But in this case, treatment is not required. Since over time, the hormonal background stabilizes.

In any case, if nodes appear in the mammary gland, do not panic. It is necessary to seek medical help and undergo a series of examinations. This will help to determine the foci of compaction, their cause and nature.

Lymph node of the mammary gland

A painful lymph node in the mammary gland requires medical attention. A disease in which the lymph nodes located near the mammary gland, which collect lymph, are enlarged is called lymphadenomatia. In a normal state, the lymph nodes are not felt and do not cause discomfort. But there are a number of diseases that cause inflammation of these nodes, so they are subject to mandatory examination. The doctor carefully examines the lateral thoracic lymph nodes and seals along the edge of the pectoralis major muscle (Sorgius node), subclavian and supraclavicular nodes, axillary.

In any case, painful sensations in the lymph nodes of the mammary gland are a reason to visit a doctor. If after examination the doctor diagnosed lymphadenopathy of the breast, then do not panic. Since the diagnosis is preliminary and is a symptom of another disease. Let's consider the main pathologies that cause inflammation of the lymph nodes:

• Metastases in oncological diseases.
• Venereal diseases.
• Syphilis, tuberculosis, brucellosis.
• Infectious lesions in the lymph node area.
• Side effects of medications
• Fungal diseases such as histoplasmosis or actinomycosis.
• Parasitic infectious diseases: giardiasis, toxoplasmosis, toxocariasis.
• Viral diseases of the lymph nodes: hepatitis, HIV.

You can detect lymph node damage yourself by palpation and careful examination of your breasts. If you find lumps with red skin and painful sensations when pressing, then this is a reason to see a doctor. Diseases of the lymph nodes of the mammary gland can be accompanied by regular fever, increased sweating, unexpected weight loss, enlarged liver or spleen.

The main task is to identify enlarged lymph nodes and characterize them. These may be soft, elastic, and mobile nodes of small size. Similar symptoms occur with bilateral enlargement. If large, dense, single nodes appear, this is a sign of metastases from tumors or progression of tuberculosis. In the event that the cause cannot be determined and no changes are detected in the chest, the doctor removes the node for histological examination or takes tissue for biopsy. But most often, lymph nodes are affected by metastases from tumor foci of the chest or other organs.

Fibrous node of the mammary gland

A fibrous node of the mammary gland occurs as a result of a dyshormonal disease due to neuroendocrine disorders in the body. Fibrosis manifests itself in the form of hyperplastic and proliferative processes in the tissues of the gland. As a rule, fibrous nodes appear against the background of reproductive function and menstrual cycle disorders. Chronic mastitis, inflammatory diseases of the genitals, refusal to breastfeed, artificial abortions and injuries to the mammary glands are predisposing factors to the formation of fibrous nodes.

This disease is detected in 15% of women with complaints of painful sensations and lumps in the breast. Most often, fibrosis develops in women aged 30-50 years. In any case, the cause of the fibrous node is hormonal imbalance. There are two types of fibrous nodes of the mammary gland:

• Local fibrosis is the initial stage of the disease, which progresses very quickly and is accompanied by painful sensations.
• Periductal fibrosis is the growth of connective tissue around the milk ducts. In most cases, it leads to cystic transformations.
• Linear fibrosis – diagnosed using ultrasound. The pathology is nodular areas along the walls of ducts, ligaments and interlobular septa of the breast.
• Focal fibrosis - this form requires differential diagnosis from malignant neoplasm. For this, the patient undergoes a puncture biopsy.

Nodular fibrosis is characterized by the formation of large seals in the breast, which are easily felt during palpation. Discomfort and painful sensations are classic symptoms of the disease. The pain begins to intensify before menstruation, radiating to the shoulder and armpit. If the nodes begin to increase during menstruation, then this is a clear sign of fibrosis. In addition, additional symptoms of the pathology include bloody discharge from the nipple. The nodes can be multiple and single, have a granular, elastic surface.

Treatment of fibrous nodes of the mammary gland involves surgical intervention and conservative drug therapy. Treatment tactics depend on the cause of the disease, the prevalence and localization of the seals, as well as the individual physiological characteristics of the patient's body.

• In conservative treatment, a woman is prescribed painkillers, hormonal agents to correct disorders, homeopathic medications to normalize hormonal levels. As well as medications to strengthen the body's immune system.
• Surgical treatment is rarely used. As a rule, the operation is performed to remove individual fibrous nodes that have led to cosmetic defects of the breast and when a malignant process is suspected.

Compliance with dietary recommendations is of no small importance in treatment. In order to reduce the symptoms of fibrosis, it is necessary to give up coffee, cocoa, chocolate and strong tea in the premenstrual period. These drinks contain methylxanthines, substances that stimulate the growth of fibrous tissue.

[ 9 ], [ 10 ]

Fibromatous node in the mammary gland

Fibromatous nodes in the mammary gland occur in 20% of women. The disease has no age limits, so it can appear in both a young girl and an adult woman. Fibromatous nodes are benign formations that appear in the muscular walls of the uterus and mammary glands. This pathology is considered the most common lesion of the reproductive system.

The main symptoms of a fibromatous breast node are: painful sensations during palpation, sometimes acute and paroxysmal, as well as heavy bleeding during menstruation. The disease is diagnosed at a gynecologist or mammologist. To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor conducts a number of additional studies. To determine the location and size of the nodes, the patient undergoes mammography, ultrasound and computed tomography. Treatment is reduced to taking hormonal medications.

[ 11 ]

Diffuse nodules in the mammary gland

Diffuse nodes in the mammary gland are a group of diseases that cause the appearance of seals. At the same time, diffuse nodes that arise against the background of mastopathy significantly increase the risk of developing breast cancer. Women's mammary glands in reproductive age are subject to proliferative and regressive changes in the supporting and epithelial tissues. Due to the disruption of these processes, diffuse restructuring occurs. Changes can be diffuse, diffuse-nodular and fibrocystic mastopathy.

The following forms of diffuse nodes in the mammary gland are distinguished:

• Diffuse mastopathy with adenosis.
• Sclerosing adenosis.
• Diffuse fibrocystic mastopathy with a predominance of cystic or fibrous components.
• Mixed form of diffuse nodules.

To determine the severity of the pathology, the patient is sent for mammography. The examination makes it possible to conditionally determine the ratio between connective tissue and glandular tissue and the fatty background. The main symptoms of diffuse nodes are multiple seals of different sizes, which cause sharp pain during palpation. Such symptoms require medical diagnosis and treatment.

[ 12 ], [ 13 ], [ 14 ], [ 15 ], [ 16 ], [ 17 ]

Hypoechoic nodule of the mammary gland

A hypoechoic node of the mammary gland is formed due to cancer cells or cells of cystic formations. In most cases, the symptoms of hypoechoic nodes do not manifest themselves in any way. Only some women experience aching pain and burning in the chest. Therefore, the disease can be detected by visiting a mammologist and undergoing standard diagnostics.

Treatment depends on the stage of development of nodular formations and their location. If the nodes grow, the patient is prescribed iodine-containing medications. If hypoechoic nodes are larger than one centimeter, a biopsy is indicated. Oncological diagnosis is made in 5% of cases.

Diagnostics a nodule in the breast

Diagnostics of a node in the mammary gland is a set of methods aimed at determining the nature of the compaction and the localization of the node. In addition to palpation and visual inspection, there are a number of other methods that can be used to diagnose breast nodes.

• Mammography is an X-ray of the mammary glands, which is performed on special devices. The image allows you to view the breast in a direct and lateral projection. The sensitivity of this method is about 95%. Mammography is used to diagnose any breast lesions. All women aged 30 to 45 should undergo an annual examination by a mammologist.
• Ductography is an X-ray examination that involves the introduction of a contrast agent into the milk ducts. This diagnostic method is used if, in addition to the seals in the gland, there are serous or bloody discharges from the nipple.
• Ultrasound examination – the examination is carried out in the first phase of the menstrual cycle. The method is highly sensitive in diagnosing nodes in young patients due to the predominance of denser connective tissue.
• Pneumocystography – is performed if there is a suspicion of cystic nodes in the mammary glands. The seals are punctured and the contents are sucked out, after which the cyst cavity is filled with gas and pictures are taken. The gas introduced during diagnostics is absorbed on its own in 7-10 days. In some cases, such diagnostics lead to the cure of cystic nodes.
• Cytological examination – is performed when there is discharge from the nipple. For diagnosis, a smear is taken and a puncture-aspiration biopsy is performed.
• Puncture – this method is the final one in diagnosing nodes in the mammary gland. It is performed for seals of unclear nature, allows to find out the structure and degree of morphological changes of nodes.
• Sectoral resection – is performed only if there is a suspicion of a malignant tumor. The patient has part of the mammary gland with the node removed. The obtained tissues are sent for histology and cytology.

In addition to the diagnostic methods described above, additional techniques can be used.

Such studies include thermography (determining the temperature of breast tissue), computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

[ 18 ], [ 19 ], [ 20 ], [ 21 ]

Treatment a nodule in the breast

Treatment of a lump in the mammary gland is carried out only after a thorough diagnosis and identification of the cause of the compaction. Using general ideas about the type of lump, the doctor prescribes the necessary examinations. Depending on the type and nature of the compaction, treatment can be medicinal, surgical or complex oncological.

If a fibromatous or fibrous node is diagnosed, then the treatment is conservative. In case of fibroadenoma of the mammary gland, surgical intervention is indicated. The patient has the nodes and surrounding tissues removed. If the seals are malignant formations, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are performed to improve the patient's condition. In case of mastopathy, treatment consists of taking medications and following a diet.

• Women who complained of painful sensations in the chest and who were not found to have pathologies are not prescribed treatment. But at the first suspicion of a disease, a comprehensive examination is prescribed with regular examinations by a mammologist and gynecologist.
• In case of mild cyclic mastalgia, that is, pain due to breast engorgement a couple of days before menstruation, a woman is advised to lead a healthy lifestyle and undergo regular examinations to monitor the progression of the disease.
• A permanent or cyclical form of breast engorgement, which is accompanied by painful sensations and diffuse nodes, requires treatment. The patient is prescribed drugs to correct hormonal imbalance and a healthy diet.
• In case of severe pain in the mammary gland and detected nodes, modern methods of therapy are used for treatment. Treatment depends on the type of compaction and physiological characteristics of the woman's body.

The choice of treatment method is made by a qualified specialist. If there is even the slightest suspicion of a malignant process, the woman is sent to an oncologist for observation.

Hormonal background correction is prescribed by a doctor after a blood test for hormone levels. Surgical treatment is performed only in extreme cases. If herbal medicine is used to combat the disease, it should include plant products to normalize metabolism, strengthen the body and remove harmful metabolites. Such drugs include sedatives, tonics, diuretics and choleretics.

Removal of a lump in the mammary gland

Removal of a node in the mammary gland depends on the type of neoplasm and the results of the treatment. As a rule, malignant seals are subject to removal, but only in combination with a course of chemotherapy. If the nodes appeared as a result of metastasis of a tumor of another organ, then the formations are removed and further treatment is prescribed to prevent relapses of the disease.

Most mammary gland node removal surgeries are performed to prevent cancer. Mastectomy is performed for accessory mammary glands and for lumps in accessory breast lobes. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia and depends on the location of the node. If the tumors are deep, the patient undergoes lumpectomy, i.e., removal of the nodes and surrounding tissues. After surgery, hormone therapy and other therapeutic procedures are prescribed to restore normal functioning of the body.

Prevention

Prevention of a lump in the mammary gland consists of several rules, following which you can protect the body from various pathologies. In order to protect the breast from the appearance of seals and nodes, it is necessary to avoid prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays. It is not recommended to often take hot baths or visit a sauna, warm the glands and other parts of the body. During breastfeeding, excess milk must be expressed and not allowed to stagnate, as this is the most common cause of the appearance of nodes. Avoid cracked nipples and any other damage to the breast. Stick to a healthy diet, without preservatives and dyes. Refusal of bad habits is another point in the prevention of mammary gland nodes.

Prevention of breast diseases comes down to a healthy lifestyle, following hygiene rules and regular preventive examinations.

• Choosing the Right Bra

The choice of underwear is one of the important moments in the prevention of diseases of the mammary gland. The wrong shape or size of the bra will lead to additional strain on the muscles and ligaments, as well as to deformation of the breast. Women with drooping breasts of large sizes should pay special attention to the choice of underwear.

• Healthy lifestyle

This point implies the prevention of all kinds of injuries to the mammary gland, proper nutrition and an active lifestyle. The diet should contain a sufficient amount of vitamins and microelements, iodine. Get enough sleep, rest and avoid stress.

• Examination and palpation of the mammary glands

Every woman should take care of her health and undergo preventive examinations of the mammary gland. The doctor will determine the shape, size and symmetry of the breast, conduct a palpation for nodes and seals. At the same time, the older the woman becomes, the more often she should visit a mammologist, as the risk of various pathologies increases. Do not forget about self-examination of the breast.

[ 22 ], [ 23 ], [ 24 ], [ 25 ]

Forecast

The prognosis of a node in the mammary gland depends entirely on the form and type of the seal, the results of the treatment and, of course, the diagnosis. Thus, with fibromatous nodes, the prognosis is favorable. If the node is surgically removed, the risk of recurrence of seals or malignancy of the neoplasm is 1%. Early diagnosis, adequate treatment and prevention are factors that improve the prognosis of a node in the mammary gland. If, after the diagnosis, the node turns out to be a malignant tumor, the prognosis depends on the type of neoplasm, the stage of its development and the age of the patient.

A lump in the mammary gland is a small lump that very often causes groundless concern. Hormones are constantly raging in the female body, so the appearance of nodes can be considered a natural process. But if the lumps take a painful form and cause discomfort, this requires medical attention. Since, most likely, we are talking about a hidden disease that requires diagnosis and treatment.

[ 26 ], [ 27 ], [ 28 ]