The appearance of cysts in the breast can be noticed in some cases through the pain in the breast or the presence of one or several lumps in the breast that are perceived during the touch. These cysts can appear in women of any age, however it is more frequent in women over 40 years old.
The diagnosis of the cyst in the breast must be made by the mastologist or gynecologist through physical examination, mammography and ultrasound, in which it is possible to identify the presence of the cyst and its characteristics. In most cases, no specific treatment is necessary, however if a sign of malignancy is found in the examination, the doctor may indicate that specific treatment should be performed.
Cyst symptoms in the breast
Most of the time, the presence of cyst in the breast does not cause symptoms, passing unnoticed by the woman, but in some cases it can cause pain and heaviness in the breast. However, when the cyst grows or when there are several small cysts, the following symptoms may appear:
- Diffuse pain throughout the breast; Presence of one or more lumps in the breast, which can be perceived on touch; Feeling of heaviness in the breast; Swelling of the breast.
The cyst can affect one or both breasts, and usually increases in size during the menstrual period, reducing again shortly thereafter. When it does not decrease, it is important to go to the doctor to have tests done to check for signs of malignancy and if there is a risk of the cyst in the breast being transformed into cancer, although this transformation is rare. See when the cyst in the breast can turn into cancer.
How the diagnosis is made
The diagnosis of the presence of cyst in the breast must be made by the mastologist or gynecologist through physical examination and ultrasound exams of the breasts or mammography, so that the cyst, size and characteristics can be identified, and the cyst can be classified into three main types:
- Simple cysts, which are soft, full of fluids and have regular walls; Complex or solid cysts, which have solid regions inside and have thicker and irregular edges; Complicated or thick cyst, which are formed by a thicker liquid, similar to gelatin.
From the performance of the exams and classification of the cysts, the doctor can assess whether there is suspicion of malignancy, which may be necessary to perform a biopsy and, in some cases, surgery to remove the cyst. However, in most cases, the cysts correspond to benign changes and no specific treatment is necessary. Understand how is the treatment for the cyst in the breast.
See also how to perform breast self-examination to check for signs of breast cysts:
