What are the symptoms of mammary duct ectasia?

Once a woman's mammary ducts dilate, plasma cell mastitis will occur, which is medically known as duct ectasia. What women need to know is that this is a benign disease that progresses relatively slowly. It is definitely not breast cancer as everyone imagines, so there is no need to be too nervous, but it cannot be taken lightly either. Timely treatment is important. So what are the symptoms of this disease?

First, clinical characteristics

This disease is more common in non-lactating or menopausal women over 40 years old, often with a history of lactation disorders. The lesions are usually confined to one side, but both breasts may be affected simultaneously. Nipple discharge is sometimes the first and only symptom of this disease. Compression of the mammary gland at multiple locations can cause secretions to overflow from the nipple. The lesions often involve a large number of milk ducts and may occupy more than half of the areola. Nipple discharge is often intermittent, sometimes coming and sometimes not.

The above clinical manifestations do not develop according to the rules in all patients, that is, the first symptom may not be nipple discharge or acute inflammation. It may be a lump under the areola or a paraareolar fistula that does not heal for a long time.

In addition, according to the pathological changes and course of the disease, the clinical manifestations can be divided into three stages.

Second, the acute phase

(1) Early stage:

The symptoms are not obvious, and there may be spontaneous or intermittent nipple discharge. Only when squeezing does the nipple discharge occur. The discharge is brown or bloody or purulent. This symptom can persist for many years.

(2) Development:

The skin within the areola is red, swollen, hot, and tender. Swollen lymph nodes and tenderness can be felt in the axilla. The whole body may experience symptoms such as chills and high fever.

This acute inflammatory symptom will subside soon.

Third, subacute stage

A lump develops in the areola area that is slightly painful and tender. The edge of the mass is unclear, resembling a breast abscess, and the masses vary in size. Puncture of the tumor can often extract pus. Sometimes the tumor ruptures naturally and forms a pus fistula. After an abscess ruptures or is incised, it may not heal for a long time, or new small abscesses may form again after healing, causing the inflammation to continue to develop.

Fourth, chronic stage

The duration of this stage varies, from several months to several years or longer. When the disease recurs, one or more hard nodules with unclear boundaries may appear, mostly located within the areola. They feel firm and adhere to the surrounding tissues, causing the duct to shorten and the nipple to retract. Sometimes due to local skin edema, it may appear as "orange peel-like" and in severe cases, the breast may be deformed.

Single or multiple orifice discharge may be seen, which may be serous or bloody in nature. Axillary lymph nodes may be palpable.