Patient's question:
Hello! I am in my middle age, and recently I have been experiencing multiple breast cysts. I would like to ask the doctor what this is about and what should be done. Please provide an explanation, thank you!Doctor's answer:
Multiple Breast Cysts. There are too many diseases in the world, and our understanding of diseases is constantly deepening, but we still feel that we know too little. Multiple breast cysts is a typical example. What are multiple breast cysts? Many people may only realize that it is a gynecological disease when they hear this term. Below, we will fill in the blanks about multiple breast cysts. Multiple breast cysts are a common female disease, and they pose significant harm to women. They severely affect the lives and health of women. Below, we will introduce this common female disease, multiple breast cysts, and let us study this disease together. Multiple breast cysts, also known as galactorrhea, occur during lactation when the milk flow from one lobe is obstructed, causing milk to accumulate within the breast. Clinically, multiple breast cysts primarily present as breast masses and are often misdiagnosed as breast tumors.I. Etiology and Pathology of Multiple Breast Cysts. Clinically, multiple breast cysts are commonly caused by breast structural abnormalities, inflammation, or tumor compression. When the epithelial cells of the breast lobe or lobule ducts fall off or are blocked by other substances, milk flow becomes obstructed, leading to stagnation within the ducts. This causes the ducts to dilate and form cysts. Multiple breast cysts can secondary infection, leading to acute mastitis or breast abscesses. If there is no secondary infection, they can persist for a long time. The contents of the cysts may thicken over time, and as water is absorbed from within, the cysts may become hard. The cyst wall of multiple breast cysts is composed of a thin layer of fibrous tissue, lined with a very thin layer of epithelial cells, which may even be shed in some areas. The cyst cavity contains pale red, amorphous material and foamy cells that phagocytose milk. In the stroma around the cysts, there is a significant infiltration of mononuclear cells, epithelioid cells, multinuclear giant cells, lymphocytes, and plasma cells. Small duct dilation and lactating glandular lobular tissue may also be observed.
II. Clinical Manifestations, Diagnosis, and Differential Diagnosis. The initial symptom of multiple breast cysts is usually a breast mass, which is more common on one side and located in the peripheral breast area outside the areola. It is round or oval, with clear boundaries, a smooth surface, and slight mobility. It feels cystic with mild tenderness upon palpation, and the diameter is usually 2–3 cm. Multiple breast cysts generally do not cause axillary lymphadenopathy. Young women who discover a well-defined breast mass during lactation or after lactation and report a history of breast inflammation during lactation should consider the possibility of a milk retention cyst. Ultrasound can be used for a definitive diagnosis. It is important to differentiate multiple breast cysts from breast cystic disease, breast fibroadenoma, and breast cancer.
III. Multiple breast cysts are a benign breast condition. Once discovered, surgical excision should be considered. The surgery for multiple breast cysts involves the simple excision of the mass. If the patient is breastfeeding and there is a secondary infection, the treatment for multiple breast cysts should involve controlling the infection and stopping lactation, followed by surgical excision of the mass and submission for pathology examination.