Mastopathy is a benign breast disease. It occurs mainly in violation of the hormonal balance. When conducting a breast self-examination, a woman can detect the main signs of the formation of a pathology.
It is not always possible to distinguish the course of mastopathy from breast cancer only by external signs. That is why it is recommended to use special techniques that allow you to know exactly what this disease is. Only after diagnosis is the required treatment prescribed.
Disease feature
Mastopathy is a pathology of the mammary gland associated with a significant growth of connective and glandular tissue. The development and formation of breasts is influenced by sex hormones, namely estrogen and progesterone, which are produced in the ovaries.
The causes of mastopathy are associated with pathological changes in the tissues of the mammary gland. This is triggered by an overabundance of estrogen and a lack of progesterone. Hormonal balance may be impaired due to diseases of the genitals, as well as due to prolonged use of oral contraceptives.
An imbalance occurs when the natural course of physiological processes in the body is disturbed, after surgery on the ovaries and uterus. The causes of mastopathy are also associated with an excess of prolactin. It is a hormone that regulates milk production.
The risk group is mainly women 30-40 years old, as there is a weakening of ovarian function, and changes in hormonal levels also appear.
The main types
Doctors distinguish such forms of mastopathy, such as:
- fibrous;
- fibrocystic;
- cystic;
- nodal;
- diffuse;
- involutive.
Fibrous mastopathy is a benign disease, during the course of which the glandular tissue is displaced and deformed under the influence of pathological proliferation of the connective. As a result, the neoplasm leads to squeezing and clogging of the ducts of the mammary gland, causing the woman significant discomfort and even some pain.
The causes of fibrocystic mastopathy are associated mainly with age-related hormonal changes in a woman's body. The disease manifests itself by the formation of dense clusters of connective tissue, which, under the influence of adverse factors, can degenerate into a cyst.
The causes of cystic mastopathy are associated with a change in the level of hormones in the body, which is often observed during menopause. With this type of disease, numerous cysts are diagnosed, that is, formations with an elastic consistency. In this case, pain is observed. Morphologically, it looks quite specific. The radiograph clearly shows a pattern that resembles large loops.
Nodular mastopathy develops due to prolonged changes in the hormonal composition of the blood, which lead to the formation of fibrous nodes in the chest. This type of disease is often accompanied by the appearance of other neoplasms, in particular, such as fibroadenoma, angioma, cyst, lipoma. This disease has a rather high risk of degeneration of the tumor into a malignant tumor.
Diffuse mastopathy is characterized in that it often affects not a separate area of the chest, but the entire organ.
Involuntary mastopathy affects only the layer of subcutaneous fat. Pathology often develops in the lower lobes of the mammary gland and only occasionally in the upper ones. Gradually, the disease provokes breast deformation. The causes and signs of mastopathy can be different, which is why a periodic examination by a doctor is required.
Causes of occurrence
The main cause of breast mastopathy, experts call hormonal failure. With the normal functioning of the body, cyclic changes occur monthly, including in the chest. The lack of progesterone, the hormone responsible for the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and fetal development, with an increase in estrogen is the main factor in the occurrence of mastopathy.
Equally important is the increase in prolactin, that is, the hormone that is responsible for the growth and normal development of the mammary gland. In addition to hormonal disorders, the causes of mastopathy can be such factors:
- gynecological diseases;
- abortion;
- menstrual irregularities;
- genetic predisposition;
- refusal of breastfeeding;
- wrong choice of hormonal drugs;
- chest injuries;
- obesity;
- smoking;
- stresses.
Provoking factors should also include wearing too tight a bra. Regardless of the cause of mastopathy in women, it is very important to recognize the symptoms of the pathology, to diagnose and treat.
Main symptoms
Depending on the form, stage and cause of the occurrence of mastopathy, the symptoms of the disease may vary slightly. Among the main features you need to highlight such as:
- chest pain before menstruation;
- discharge from the nipples;
- the appearance of lumps in the chest.
Initially, there is a slight soreness in the chest, which the woman perceives as a premenstrual syndrome. However, over time, the pulling pain can become sharp, stitching and more intense. She begins to give into the hand and under the shoulder blade.
In the second half of the cycle, swelling and engorgement of the mammary gland appears . Sprawling tissues squeeze blood vessels, which leads to swelling and enlargement of the gland. When pressing on the nipples, discharge appears. Their color can be absolutely any. Greenish discharge appears if inflammation occurs in the lobules and ducts. The most dangerous are spotting. This symptom may indicate the formation of a malignant tumor.
May be one node or several at once. With diffuse mastopathy, a fine-grained seal is felt due to an increase in lobules in the mammary gland. With nodal mastopathy, such seals can reach 7 cm. They do not have clearly defined boundaries. In a large-sized cyst, the seal has a clearly defined contour.
Knowing the causes of mastopathy and the symptoms of the disease, you can timely detect its course, diagnose and treat.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis will help determine the causes of mastopathy, which includes methods such as:
- palpation;
- mammography;
- Ultrasound
Palpation, despite all its apparent simplicity, is a very effective way to detect breast diseases. A similar technique allows us to determine the presence of neoplasms, but cannot independently recognize their type and nature of changes. With the help of palpation, a woman can independently detect the course of violations.
Mammography is an x-ray examination of the breast. This technique allows timely detection of pathological changes in the tissues of the breast. It is distinguished by high efficiency and safety. Every woman over 35 years of age is recommended to have a mammogram every 2 years, and after reaching 50 years of age - every year.
Ultrasound is characterized by high information content and complete safety, including for pregnant and lactating women. This research method helps to identify the nature of the changes.
In some cases, a biopsy is required to make an accurate diagnosis. Any of these types of examinations should be carried out on the 6-10th day of the menstrual cycle.
Treatment features
Before choosing a treatment regimen for mastopathy, the causes and symptoms of the disease must be taken into account. Initially, the doctor must make a puncture from the neoplasm, which allows you to correctly diagnose.
When conducting treatment, it is important to prevent the transition of a benign tumor to a malignant one. It is necessary to eliminate the dysfunction of the pituitary gland and ovaries, as well as normalize the functioning of the liver and nervous system. In the treatment of mastopathy, the cause of the disease must be eliminated first. This is the most important condition, regardless of the form of the course of the disease.
With nodal mastopathy, an operation is used, that is, removal of nodes with the simultaneous appointment of specific agents to increase immunity. Recently, however, the intervention began to be treated much more carefully, since the operation cannot eliminate the cause of the disease.
In many women who underwent 10-15 operations, after each intervention, nodes appeared again, located along the seam. Another tactic for treating mastopathy is conservative observation. For this, enzyme therapy is prescribed, as well as taking antihistamines, vitamins, immunomodulators, antipsychotics.
To eliminate the causes of breast mastopathy, treatment is carried out using hormonal drugs, in particular, such as:
- phytoestrogens;
- dydrogesterones;
- corticosteroids;
- adaptogens;
- combined oral contraceptives.
If conservative methods do not give the desired result, then the patient may be recommended surgery to remove fibroids and cysts.
Drug treatment
To eliminate the cause of breast mastopathy, treatment should be comprehensive. The main method is medication. Specialists very successfully apply hormonal and non-hormonal drugs. The medication regimen in each individual case is selected individually, depending on the type of disease, especially the hormonal background and the presence of gynecological problems. Among hormonal drugs, it is necessary to distinguish such as:
- antiestrogens;
- gestagens;
- androgens.
Antiestrogens - drugs that reduce the production of estrogen in the body. To achieve a sustainable result, medicines must be taken for a long time. High efficacy is distinguished by such drugs as Tamoxifen and Fareston. The first drug is an agent designed specifically for the treatment of estrogen-sensitive tumors, as well as malignant breast diseases. Its use requires close supervision of a doctor, since the medicine can provoke complications.
The drug "Fareston" is highly effective due to its antitumor and antiestrogenic effect. With its use, the painful engorgement of the breast completely disappears, and the symptoms of mastopathy also pass. However, this drug has certain contraindications, which must be taken into account.
Androgens reduce ovarian activity, thereby slowing down the processes of ovulation. Their systematic intake helps eliminate chest tightness. The most popular drug is Dinazol.
Oral contraceptives not only prevent ovulation, but also normalize the menstrual cycle, reducing the manifestations of mastopathy. Often appoint “Mercilon”, “Marvelon”, “Femoden”, “Silest”.
Among external preparations, ointment "Progestogel" is often prescribed.
Among non-hormonal drugs, homeopathic ones are mainly prescribed. Well established Mastodinon. A specially selected extract of medicinal herbs reduces the level of prolactin, eliminating the signs of the disease and preventing the proliferation of tissues.
Folk remedies
To prevent the development of mastopathy and eliminate the causes of the onset of the disease, alternative methods can be used. In therapy, herbal applications, fees, compresses, ointments are widely used. The success of herbal medicine has been proven by many years of experience in its application. Among the herbs, the red brush and the pine forest are especially popular.
Take 1 tbsp. l dry red brush, add 1 tbsp. boil water, boil and boil for 10 minutes. Let stand, filter. Drink 70-80 ml three times a day.
Take 5 tbsp. l dry herbs of the uterine uterus, pour a bottle of vodka and put it to stand for 3 weeks, stirring daily. Drink a month for 15-30 drops. You can also make a decoction of this plant. To do this, take 3 tbsp. l dry pine forest, pour 300 ml of water. Boil for 5 minutes, let stand, filter. Drink broth three times a day for 1 tbsp. l
A compress from burdock helps well. To do this, mash a medium-sized sheet so that juice begins to stand out from it. Put in a bra cup and leave overnight. The course of therapy lasts 2 weeks. The same compress can be made from a leaf of cabbage.
Mastopathy in children
The causes of mastopathy in children are associated with exposure to placental hormones, which are transmitted from the mother and circulate in the blood of the newborn. It is very difficult to determine the course of the disease, since the chest does not visually change.
It can appear in a child at any time and the signs are almost no different from symptoms in adults. Mastopathy can go away on its own after stabilizing the hormonal background. However, it is impossible to hope for this, and self-medication is strictly forbidden, as this is fraught with dangerous consequences.
Possible complications
It is important not only to know the symptoms and causes of mastopathy, but also what complications can arise with improper or untimely treatment. If the disease is not controlled, then compaction can increase in size, and also turn into cancer. One of the signs of degeneration into a malignant tumor is the appearance of many small calcifications in the mammary gland.
The danger is also the development of inflammation in the area with a damaged tissue structure, suppuration of fluid in the cyst. In addition, the seal may burst, leading to extensive inflammation.
Forecast
Medication for mastopathy generally gives a temporary result, and a few years after therapy, seals and nodules may reappear. This is especially true for women suffering from erosion, frequent inflammation, dysplasia. General therapy helps to ease the course of the disease, eliminate symptoms and delay the transition to the next stage of the disease.
Prophylaxis
To reduce the likelihood of mastopathy, it is imperative to follow the general principles of prevention, namely:
- good nutrition;
- physical activity;
- refusal of alcohol and tobacco;
- healthy sleep and rest;
- comfortable psychological state;
- intake of vitamins;
- competent choice of linen.
To detect the disease at the initial stage, you need to periodically visit a doctor for an examination.