Nodular mastopathy
Content:
- What is nodular mastopathy?
- Causes of nodular mastopathy
- Symptoms of nodular mastopathy
- Treatment of nodular mastopathy
What is nodular mastopathy?
Nodular mastopathy is a benign change in the mammary gland caused by dyshormonal disorders. With nodular mastopathy, nodules and cysts form in the tissues of the mammary gland. Another name for nodular mastopathy is localized adenomatosis, which is essentially a focal form of fibrocystic disease.
Statistics indicate that nodular mastopathy most often affects women in the age range from 35 to 45 years. The danger of the disease lies in the fact that with a pronounced degree of proliferation, the risk of malignancy of an existing cyst or fibroadenoma increases to 32%.
Medicine considers this type of formation as precancerous, since the risks of developing breast cancer are significantly increased. In the tissues of the mammary gland, both one and several nodes can be found. They can affect one or both glands.
Nodular mastopathy can be presented in several forms, including:
- Fibroadenomas, which are benign neoplasms that form from the connective tissue of the breast.
- Cysts are pathological formations localized in the ducts of the gland and having a liquid content.
- Leaf-shaped tumors or leaf-shaped fibroadenomas are proliferative formations consisting mainly of connective tissue with epithelial inclusions.
- Papillomas are tumors that form in the milk duct.
- Lipomas and lipogranulomas, represented by a capsule with adipose tissue, located in any part of the gland.
- Angiomas of the mammary gland, which grow from its blood and lymph vessels.
- Hamartomas, which are benign formations, represented by a fibrous, fatty and glandular component.
If a woman is diagnosed with a proliferating nodular form of mastopathy, then doctors regard it as a precancerous condition requiring prompt removal. It is this form of mastopathy that most often undergoes malignancy.
Causes of nodular mastopathy
- Excess estrogen and lack of progesterone. All cyclic processes in the body of a woman of reproductive age proceed under the control of two main hormones - estrogen and progesterone. They are responsible for the frequency of menstruation, for the maturation of the corpus luteum, for the ovulation process, etc. In the first phase of the menstrual cycle, proliferative changes should occur in the mammary glands, and in the second phase, these changes slow down, for which antagonist hormones are responsible. When there is an excess of estrogen and a lack of progesterone in the body, tissue proliferation becomes excessive and uncontrolled. As a result, diffuse mastopathy is formed first, and then nodular mastopathy.
- Excess pituitary hormone, namely prolactin. Most often, this uncontrolled jump occurs while carrying a baby and while breastfeeding. Prolactin regulates both of these processes, however, with an increase in its concentration, the process of development of pathological formation in the tissues of the mammary gland can begin.
- Any conditions that provoke hormonal imbalance, such as: nervous tension, stress, abortion, miscarriages, overweight, chronic hepatitis, gynecological diseases (inflammation of the ovaries, endometriosis, etc.), diabetes mellitus, metabolic disorders.
- Additional provocative factors that can cause the development of nodular mastopathy are too early onset of menstruation and late onset of menopause. (read also: at what age does menopause begin?)
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Long-term breastfeeding, no childbirth until the age of 30 years.
- Addiction to bad habits.
- Hormonal contraception.
- Any trauma to the chest, such as bruises.
- Intestinal dysbiosis.
- Irregular sexual relations, dissatisfaction in intimate life.
- Lack of iodine in the body.
- Do not exclude the fact of a hereditary predisposition to breast tumors. Especially in this regard, diseases transferred by women through the maternal line are dangerous.
Symptoms of nodular mastopathy
- In the tissues of the mammary gland, seals with clear boundaries can be palpated. They are capable of movement as they have no adhesions to the skin or nipple. Often such formations are found by a woman on her own.
- In the period before the next menstruation, the seals become more toned, tense and become painful. When the menstrual cycle is over, the swelling subsides and the pain goes away.
- The breast becomes larger in size due to the swelling of the existing nodes.
- Painful sensations can be given to the scapula and shoulder.
- Koenig's symptom characterizes the nodular form of mastopathy. It manifests itself in the fact that the nodes cannot be palpated if the woman is in a horizontal position, that is, lying.
- There is no swelling of regional lymph nodes.
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There may be slight discharge from the nipples when pressing on them. The volume of such secretions at a time, as a rule, does not exceed one drop. The color of the discharge can vary, it can be transparent, yellow, with a brown tint and with blood impurities.
Treatment of nodular mastopathy
The basic method of therapy for nodular mastopathy is reduced to surgical intervention. Its type and volume are determined by the attending doctor.
If a woman is diagnosed with a cyst, then its contents are removed, and then the sclerotherapy procedure is performed. This is a minimally invasive technique that is performed under ultrasound guidance. During the procedure, the doctor punctures the cyst with the introduction of a sclerosant. In the event that the cyst reappears, its enucleation is performed.
If a woman is diagnosed with fibroadenoma, then the woman is shown a sectoral resection of the gland. During this procedure, the tumor and the surrounding tissue - parts of the breast - are removed.
If, after the diagnostics performed, the results turn out to be controversial, that is, the biopsy data do not give an unambiguous answer to the question of the benign quality of the formation, then surgical intervention is carried out without fail. Urgent surgical intervention is indicated with the rapid growth of the nodular formation, as well as with its recurrence.
When a woman is diagnosed with multiple cystic or nodular formations, the patient is referred for a radical breast resection. Or, a subcutaneous mastectomy is performed followed by mammoplasty. Subcutaneous mastectomy involves the complete removal of the gland tissue, including the axillary and subclavian lymph nodes. However, the breast skin is preserved, as is the nipple-areola apparatus. This makes it possible to subsequently restore the breast by filling it with either your own tissues or by installing an implant. Subcutaneous mastectomy is usually completed with radiation or chemotherapy.
As for conservative treatment, it comes down only to eliminating the existing hormonal imbalance and preventing a relapse of the disease.
On the subject: Treatment of mastopathy with folk remedies - 4 effective ways
Since nodular mastopathy is successfully treated when a disease is detected in the early stages of its development, it is necessary to perform regular self-examination. Women over 35 should be examined by a mammologist without fail.
Treatment of endocrine and inflammatory diseases must be timely. It is known that the nodal form of mastopathy is a consequence of its diffuse variety, which occurs earlier. Therefore, for the prevention of the nodular form, diffuse mastopathy should be treated in full.
If a woman discovers any seals in her breasts, and fluid is released from the nipples, it is necessary to go for a consultation with a gynecologist or mammologist as soon as possible. Timely diagnostics will preserve not only women's health, but also life.
The author of the article: Bykov Evgeny Pavlovich | Oncologist, surgeon
Education: graduated from residency at the Russian Scientific Oncological Center. N. N. Blokhin "and received a diploma in the specialty" Oncologist"
