Cystic Disease of the Breast

Abstract

Generally agreed to be caused by endocrinologic imbalance, chronic cystic mastitis is the most frequently encountered abnormality of the breast. It most often occurs in women between 30 and 50 years of age.

Symptoms include pain, swelling, tenderness, nodularity of the breast, and occasionally a discharge, which is seldom bloody.

Cystic mastitis can be diagnosed from the clinical picture, examination of the breast, and roentgenography.

Treatment consists of frequent examinations, reassurance and aspiration of the large cysts. Androgens, progesterone, thiamine and riboflavin, and anticholinergic drugs also have been advocated.