Definition:
Cysts are fluid filled sacs within the breast. These sacs form when normal milk producing glands enlarge. The cause of this enlargement is not definitely known but is very likely related to an imbalance between the normal production and absorption of fluid. Breast cysts may be solitary but are most commonly multiple and can vary in size from microscopic to larger than a ping pong ball.
Breast cyst->1 Pectoralis muscle, 2 Fatty breast tissue, 3 Benign cyst, 4 Breast glands, 5 Milk ducts
It is a firm, round lump in the breast tissue that forms when a lobule fills with fluid. the development of cysts is influenced by levels of female sex hormones.
Breast cysts are common, particularly in women age 40-60. Although larger cysts can sometimes be felt as “lumps”, many cysts are undetectable by physical examination.
A cyst may be felt just under the skin or may occur deeper within the breast tissue. The lump is usually not painful.
Breast cysts may occur singly, but in about half of all cases there is more than one cyst, and both breasts may be affected. some women also have generalized lumpiness of the breast tissue.
Cysts are frequently seen as abnormal shadows on mammograms. When this occurs, breast ultrasound examination is usually performed. Breast ultrasound is the most sensitive and accurate method for the identification and diagnosis of breast cysts. With modern ultrasound equipment accuracy rate of 95% to 100% can be expected.
In a study of more than 2,000 women in New York City, ultrasound found cysts in 30% of pre-menopausal women, in 7% who were post-menopausal and in 20% of post-menopausal women who were taking hormone replacement. Only 8% of these cysts could be felt at physical examination but half were seen on mammograms.
You should always consult your doctor if you detect a lump during breast self-examination so that the possibility of breast cancer can be ruled out. In rare cases, cancerous cells may be found in the wall of a cyst.
Fibrocystic disease:-This is an unfortunate term which has achieved wide usage. It is frequently used to describe the “lumpy breast.” This is a common condition usually unassociated with cysts and affecting at least half of normal women who may have irregular feeling breast tissue, cyclical pain and tenderness. These represent variable responses of breast tissue to cyclical fluctuations in levels of normal female hormones and is best designated as a benign “condition” not a disease.
Virtually all breast cysts identified as “simple cysts” by ultrasound are benign and remain so. It is estimated that perhaps 1 in 1,000 cysts may harbor a tumor (not necessarily malignant). These can usually be identified by their ultrasound appearance. Women with cysts are not at greater risk for the development of cancer although this risk may be minimally elevated if there is a positive family history for breast cancer (mother, sister, daughter).
What you should do?
If your doctor suspects a cyst after examining your breast, he or she may arrange for breast x-rays or ultrasound scanning.
When a breast lump is found your doctor may elect to put a needle into it. This is a simple and effective technique which serves a dual purpose. It confirms the nature of the lump as “cystic” or “solid” and extracts fluid from a cyst which frequently makes the lump disappear. If no fluid is obtained the lump is presumed not to be a cyst and whatever material is aspirated may be sent to the laboratory for analysis. When a cyst is discovered by ultrasound, aspiration is not generally recommended unless the cyst has some unusual features on the ultrasound image, or the cyst is associated with discomfort (physical or emotional) which can be relieved by aspiration. If the cyst appears to contain material other than fluid on the ultrasound image an aspiration procedure may be recommended. This is best performed using ultrasound guidance to ensure complete drainage of the cyst. Ultrasound-Guided Breast Cyst Aspiration
Breast cysts are treated by draining the fluid they contain. this fluid can be examined for cancerous cells. a cyst usually disappears after aspiration, but it may recur and require further drainage. if a cyst recurs several times, or if it is found to contain cancerous cells, it will be surgically removed.
Studies of breast cyst fluid from thousands of women have established that laboratory analysis of fluid is of value only if the appearance of the fluid suggests previous bleeding. Normal benign cyst fluid is usually yellow, green or gray and can be safely discarded.
What will happen if a cyst is left alone?
Breast cysts frequently fluctuate in size. This is commonly seen on routine annual mammograms. They may resolve and entirely disappear between annual examinations. This was observed in more than half of women with cysts followed at a Breast Center in Los Angeles. As mammograms of women with breast cysts may look different each year ultrasound may be requested to ensure complete evaluation. For this reason, comprehensive rather than screening mammograms are suggested for our patients with “cystic breasts”
You may click to see:->Breast lumps: Types of lumps and what they mean
Resources:
http://www.charak.com/DiseasePage.asp?thx=1&id=252
http://www.cpmc.org/services/women/breast/breast_cyst.html
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