The breast milk cyst is a benign breast cancer, rarely malignant. This breast cyst does not require specific diagnostics or invasive therapeutic procedures, but, like any benign hyperplasia, it obliges women to be more vigilant and more frequent.

The breast milk cystis an example of an encysted lesion in which the secretion produced by the mammary glands accumulates. When their obstruction occurs, a dense lipid-protein content begins to accumulate. On palpation, a milk cyst is a small soft, usually painless nodule of any location that can be moved relative to the substrate. It usually affects the lower parts - the quadrants of the breasts, sometimes it tends to become large.

Generally, changes in the nature of milk cysts are not dangerous, provided that inflammation has not occurred, which is manifested by the appearance of general markers of inflammation, i.e. excessive pain, redness of the skin covering the cyst. In exceptional cases, a breast abscess develops, which requires emptying and evacuation of the pathological contents.

Milky cyst: causes

It turns out you can identify a list of factors that increase the likelihood of a cyst. The most common situations are:

  • pregnancy and lactation
  • taking an oral hormonal contraceptive
  • hormonal disorders of the body, even in the form of increased prolactin production, which is referred to as hyperprolactinemia

In the latter case, apart from a palpable lump in the breast, the pathognomonic clinical symptom is galactorrhoea, i.e. milk production outside the lactation period. This is an expression of the action of prolactin. In such a situation, the equalization of hormone levels leads to the resorption of the cyst.

Milk cyst: symptoms

A small change may be asymptomatic. The first signs of an ongoing disease process may be associated with the development of an inflammatory process. Typical indicators of an inflammatory reaction then appear. These are reddening of the skin covering the lesion, soreness especially when touched, swelling of the surrounding tissues, sometimes accompanied by fever as a sign of a generalized infection, most often in the course of an abscess.

Diagnostics and treatmentmilk cyst

Usually, the diagnosis of the milk cyst is not a problem and it is often the patient herself who notices the formation of a lump in the breast. The association of ailments with the period of breastfeeding helps to make a proper diagnosis and accelerates the introduction of adequate therapy.

In case of doubt, a breast ultrasound is an excellent diagnostic tool. It is a proper and minimally invasive examination, useful especially in case of doubts whether we are dealing with a milk cyst or another equally common pathology - fibroadenoma of the breast.

The uncomplicated milk cyst does not cause any complaints, it is not accompanied by the poor general condition of the patient. Increased temperature or general symptoms suggest the development of a generalized infection, e.g. in the course of an abscess.

If a cyst appears, you can also cope with it at home. A warm compress or a bath, massage or regular latching of the baby to the breast will bring relief.

Usually, the diagnosis of a milk cyst does not require treatment. Most often, the change withdraws spontaneously, e.g. after the end of the lactation process. Despite numerous speculations, it has not been proven that the appearance of a milk cyst increases the risk of developing neoplastic changes within the mammary gland. Of course, each change should be carefully monitored and in case of doubt, diagnosis should be extended, bearing in mind that changes detected at an early stage of development give a good response to treatment.

How to prevent the formation of a milk cyst

It has been proven that appropriate prophylactic measures can act preventively before the formation of a cystic lesion, especially one that occurs during lactation. It is important to latch your baby to the breast as often as possible. This prevents the glands from clogging with thick mucus. Sometimes the improvement of transport through the secretory elements of the mammary gland is brought about by changing the feeding position, increasing the frequency of expressing milk, extending the feeding process or changing underwear. In order to ensure constant milk production, the baby should not include solid products too early, and also refill the baby with teas.

Category:

Female diseases