Breast cysts

Question 1

What are breast cysts?

Answer 1

benign, fluid filled sac within the breast

Question 2

What are fibrocystic breasts?

Answer 2

• Fibrocystic breasts = lumpy breasts associated with pain that fluctuate with the menstrual cycle (worse during luteal phase)
o RFs: Obesity, nulliparity, HRT, late onset menopause/first childbirth
o Diagnosis of exclusion
o Typically in women age 30-40

Question 3

Aetiology of breast cysts

Answer 3

Hormone changes? Will become larger/tender pre-menstrually

Question 4

RF of breast cysts?

Answer 4

• Previous breast cyst

* Peri-menopausal

Question 5

Epidemiology of breast cysts?

Answer 5

• Approximately 7% of peri-menopausal women develop palpable breast cysts
• Rarely found in men
• Account for 15% of all breast lumps
• Affect women aged 40-60
• Can occur in post-menopausal women taking HRT
• 30% develop another

Question 6

Presenting symptoms of breast cysts

Answer 6

• Breast lump
o Hard and mobile
o Enlarge very rapidly during menstrual cycle (‘appear overnight’)

Question 7

Signs of breast cysts O/E

Answer 7

• Breast lump
o Tenderness in the area
o Extremely well defined and smooth
• May have multiple lumps

Question 8

Investigations for breast cysts

Answer 8

• US
o Thin walled, well-defined fluid-filled lesion
o Malignancy = thickened wall, thick internal septations, mixed solid/fluid
• Mammogram (if over 40)
• Aspiration