What to do with breast cysts

The incidence of breast cysts is becoming higher and higher, and there are also many treatments. However, patients whose symptoms are not so serious do not need surgical treatment. As long as they observe the changes in their symptoms, they can prevent it well. However, some more serious patients may need surgical treatment, otherwise their symptoms will worsen.

Treatment of Breast Cysts

1. General treatment

Most breast cysts do not require surgical treatment, and clinical follow-up observation is the main approach. In addition, some malignant tumors, such as breast mucinous carcinoma, present as cysts as their main manifestation. Therefore, if breast cysts show symptoms such as cyst wall thickening and cyst wall growths, resection and biopsy may be considered to confirm the diagnosis.

2. Surgery

When excision is necessary, care should be taken to completely remove the breast cyst. If it is a malignant lesion, it should be treated according to the principles of breast cancer.

1. Simple cyst

Simple cysts are the most common breast cysts, mainly due to endocrine disorders causing ductal epithelial hyperplasia and an increase in cells in the ducts, which causes the ducts to extend, tortuosity, and fold. The duct walls at the folds become necrotic due to ischemia, forming cysts.

Simple breast cysts are common in middle-aged women, with round or oval breast lumps as the main symptoms. The cysts can be single or multiple. In single cases, the tumor often grows rapidly and can be easily confused with breast cancer. The cyst often changes with the menstrual cycle and is accompanied by premenstrual breast pain. To confirm the diagnosis, mammography, ultrasound and needle aspiration cytology can be performed. If multiple punctures are ineffective, or if cytological or histological examinations confirm epithelial hyperplasia or papilloma, surgical treatment is appropriate.

2. Breast cyst

Galactocele, also known as milk retention cyst, is less common than simple cyst. It is mainly caused by blockage of a duct during lactation, which causes milk stasis and forms a cyst. Milk cysts can be found in any part of the breast, and are most common deep in the breast, often occurring during pregnancy or lactation or after lactation.

The main clinical symptom of milk cyst is breast lumps, which are mostly round or oval, with a smooth surface, a cystic feel, clear boundaries, high mobility, and no adhesion to the skin. In case of secondary infection, local inflammatory reactions such as redness, swelling, heat and pain may be seen, and enlarged lymph nodes may be felt in the ipsilateral axilla. If the cyst is large, the patient has a long history of illness, or has recurrent infections, surgical removal of the cyst is recommended.