Description : A fibroid is a benign tumour of the breast and is very similar to the fibroid found in the uterus. It is a very common in young and middle-aged women. When examined using hands, breast fibroids feel firm and rubbery. They are moveable, hence are referred to as breast mouse. The causes of breast fibroids are not completely understood. However, there are several factors that play a significant role in the development of the disease, such as:
Breast fibroid is diagnosed using either digital mammography or breast ultrasound.
Painful fibroids or fibroids associated with large cysts may warrant further treatment like surgery depending on the size of tumour.
Description: A cyst is a water filled cavity which is thought to occur with age, due to changes in the normal levels of hormones leading to changes in the breast.
Breast cysts can be diagnosed on an ultrasound or by fine needle aspirations (a type of biopsy procedure).
Vacuum Assisted Biopsy (VAB) is the preferred biopsy procedure.
Description: Granulomatous refers to an inflammatory tumour that is composed of granulation tissue (the tissue that forms on wounds for healing), while mastitis means inflammation of the mammary gland in the breast. Granulomatous mastitis, therefore, is an immunological and inflammatory condition in which the body creates antibodies for the breast tissue to fight the infection in the tissue, and produces abscess (or pus accumulation, that happens when a wound is infected) over a period of time. Granuloma is the collection of immune cells in the tissue formed to fight a foreign substance in the tissue. This granuloma then gets secondarily infected to form an abscess. Multiple abscesses keep on arising in the breast over a period of time. This makes the condition very challenging to treat, but it does not lead to mortality. Granulomatous mastitis is a very common finding. At Samarpan, we see about 4-5 patients every month with granulomatous mastitis and in at least 90% of patients, excellent results with just medications are achieved.
Only about 10% of the people with granulomatous mastitis need a procedure which is usually limited to excision of the abscesses without deforming the breast. This is a day care procedure where the patient can come in the morning and can go home in a couple of hours. This procedure is painless, scarless and quick, thus assuring the patient of no harm and more relief.
Description: A papilloma is a benign tumour that grows like a wart or finger-like fronds, projecting outwards in the milk ducts. It can occur in one duct (solitary papilloma) or in multiple ducts (papillomatosis). Multiple papillomas can pose a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
Ultrasound is the best way to diagnose a papilloma.
If more than one duct is involved, extensive surgical excision is done to remove the papilloma. The surgery is usually a day care procedure, therefore, rest assured, the patient should not be worried about being admitted to the hospital. Since it is simply an excision, there are no scars, and no pain, as well.
Description: Breast pain, also known as mastalgia, mammalgia or mastodynia, includes a dull ache, heaviness, tightness in the breast or breast tenderness. It is hypersensitivity and the pain is either in one or both the breasts. It is usually prominent during menstrual periods and hence, is known as cyclical breast pain. Cyclical breast pain is often unpredictable – it may well just go away in time, and then come back periodically during menstrual cycles.
If the breast gets infected or the breast ducts are blocked, the condition is called mastitis. It is most common in breastfeeding women and usually occurs within the first three months after giving birth.