Cystic Breast Hyperplasia

Breast cysts are divided into simple cysts and milk cysts. Simple cyst is also called cystic hyperplasia of the breast. It is caused by ovarian lesions in women, endocrine disorders, decreased progesterone secretion and increased estrogen. It is a benign lesion. The contents of the cyst are liquid, and there is no echo on B-ultrasound examination, indicating that there is no tumor in the cyst. Cystic breast hyperplasia is self-limiting and will stop developing on its own after about 3 years, but it also has the potential to become cancerous.

1. Causes

Simple cysts are the most common breast cysts. It is mainly due to endocrine disorders that cause ductal epithelial hyperplasia, resulting in duct extension, tortuosity, and folding. The duct wall at the folding site undergoes necrosis due to ischemia, forming a cyst.

2. Clinical manifestations

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.

3. Inspection

a. Breast palpation

If a tumor with clear boundaries, good mobility, and a smooth surface is felt during examination, attention should be paid to the possibility of a breast cyst. Breast ultrasound examination and b. Breast mammography examination

Breast ultrasound is very helpful in diagnosis. Malignancy should be considered for thick-walled cysts, uneven walls, or visible protrusions on the walls. Breast mammography can detect some cystic lesions that have already become malignant (with clustered or punctate calcifications).

4. Treatment

a. 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.

b.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.