Many women who are faced with this pathology ask the same question: "What is breast ductectomy, how dangerous is it and what should be done to eliminate this disease?" To answer all these questions, you should go a little deeper into the anatomy of the female body and listen to the advice of experienced mammologists. Only in this case there is a chance to quickly and without any loss to cope with this condition.
Breastectomy : what is it?
Most women with this pathology believe that this is the main diagnosis. In fact, ductectasia is just a sign of some other disease. In other words, the identification of this deviation gives a signal about the need for further diagnosis of the patient to identify the underlying disease. In this case, it is worth revealing what it is - ductectomy of the mammary glands.
By this definition in medicine is understood the expansion of the ducts of the mammary gland, leading to painful sensations in women. The incidence of this pathology is 15% of women all over the world. Moreover, most of the patients belong to the age group of 35-45 years.
Development reasons
The female breast consists of several types of tissue:
Each mammary gland is divided into 15-18 shares, and each share consists of milk ducts. Here, during lactation, secretion accumulates - milk, which begins to move to the nipple.
The female body is able to produce milk constantly. Activation of this process occurs during pregnancy and in the period after the birth of the baby. This condition is explained by an increase in hormone production.
In the absence of pregnancy and the postpartum period, milk is also produced, but in much smaller quantities. Moreover, during the movement of milk along the ducts of the gland, it does not have time to reach the nipple, as it is absorbed into the tissue.
With some changes in the body, the ducts of the breast expand significantly (ductectasia develops), which leads to the appearance of characteristic symptoms.
In the list of possible factors that provoke pathology, doctors call:
- breast injuries;
- strong expansion of the ducts after a period of lactation;
- the occurrence of inflammatory processes in the breast tissue;
- polyps and papillomas in the ducts;
- disturbed hormonal background (increased production of the hormone prolactin);
- the presence of a breast tumor;
- long-term use of hormonal contraceptives;
- age-related changes in breast tissue.
Clinical picture
Each woman will be able to timely detect breast ductectomy. What does it mean? To do this, it is enough to regularly conduct self-diagnostics and consult a doctor at the first symptoms. Among the characteristic features:
- small seals in the areola area;
- unpleasant and painful sensations in the chest area;
- slight discharge from the nipples in the absence of pregnancy and lactation (they can have a greenish, yellow or brown tint);
- slight increase in one breast or both, swelling;
- burning sensation;
- slight displacement of the nipple;
- the appearance of redness in the areola;
- the appearance of retraction of the nipple.
In this case, bilateral, left or right breast ductectomy can be detected. Of course, the identification of one or more of these symptoms does not at all indicate a 100% presence of ductectasia, but diagnosis will still be required.
Diagnostics
For effective treatment, the doctor must certainly conduct a thorough diagnosis. In the course of research, the localization of the pathological process, the state of nearby tissues, the presence of concomitant diseases are determined. As diagnostic methods, several are used at once:
- The initial reception, during which the doctor clarifies the patient’s complaints.
- Palpation method. An experienced specialist can easily determine small seals in the tissues and note the general condition of the mammary glands.
- Blood analysis. In the course of laboratory studies, the level of hormones in the blood is detected.
- Ultrasound Using this method, it is possible to clarify the location of the pathology and its size.
- Mammography.
- Laboratory study of fluid secreted from the nipples. These are microscopic and bacteriological analyzes.
- Biopsy. This analysis is not always required, but only in cases where there is a suspicion of cancer. In this case, using the length of a sharp needle, a sampling of the affected tissue is performed. After collection, the seized cells are carefully examined.
Basic treatment requirements
The course of therapy is prescribed only after receiving the results of the tests. Selection should be carried out exclusively by the attending physician. Self-medication in this case is categorically not recommended, since the wrong choice of medications or the complete lack of treatment leads to a worsening of the woman's condition and the development of other diseases.
In each case, an individual treatment is selected for breast ductectasis, the causes of development play a significant role in this regard. This is due to the fact that breast ductectasis is only a symptom of another disease. Therapy is carried out on the basis of the main diagnosis and the reasons for its appearance.
There are several directions:
- medication (in this case, the patient is prescribed a course of drugs);
- surgical (during which the affected area of the tissue is removed).
When is treatment not required?
In some cases, expansion of the ducts of the mammary gland is permissible. This happens during pregnancy or lactation. At this time, the woman’s body undergoes major changes, including at the hormonal level. After this period, the expansion of the ducts takes place independently.
Another case when ductectasia does not need special therapy is the second half of the menstrual cycle, during which hormones affect the expansion of the ducts. After the onset of critical days, pain in the chest disappears without a trace.
Drug treatment of ductectasia
In most cases, medication is prescribed for the treatment of breast ductectasia.
They are selected based on the nature of the disease:
- Antibiotics. In the event that the infection became the cause of the pathology, it is quite difficult to do without antibiotics. They act on the outbreak and neutralize it. As a result of this, the symptoms of the disease are noticeably reduced. Such groups of drugs are used as: penicillins, cephalosporins.
- Analgesics (painkillers). They help to reduce pain and generally improve the quality of life of patients.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs. Reducing the activity of the focus of inflammation minimizes symptoms and accelerates recovery.
- Hormone-containing drugs. They are prescribed if the cause of breast ductectasis is a malfunction at the hormonal level. The selection of the drug requires taking into account the age and general condition of the patient.
- Immunomodulators. With their help, it is possible to build reliable protection in the fight against inflammatory processes. Representatives of this group are Timalin and Immunal.
- The complex of vitamins. It is necessary in the period after treatment to restore the body.
Surgery
This option is prescribed only if drug treatment is ineffective.
There are 2 types of operations:
- Partial excision. This option is considered sparing and is performed under local anesthesia. It is prescribed for the detection of local breast ductectasia. During the operation, the surgeon makes an incision in the tissues and removes the area that is prone to expansion of the ducts. In this case, incisions are made in places of physiological folds. This approach makes the location of the sections less noticeable. After the operation, the removed tissue is sent for cytological examination (to detect cancer cells).
- Complete excision (removal of the mammary gland). This option occurs only in cases where the patient has a malignant tumor. An operation is performed under general anesthesia. At times, the cause of such surgery is bilateral breast ductectasis.
After the operation, antibiotic therapy is performed to block inflammatory processes.
Forecasts
Timely contacting a specialist and properly arranged treatment gives high chances for a full recovery. In this case, the woman is recommended to avoid stressful situations, carefully follow all the recommendations of the attending physician and not self-medicate.
All concomitant diseases are treated as effectively as breast ductectasis.
Prevention
To minimize the risk of developing breast ductectomy, it’s enough to know clearly what it is - breast ductectomy. For breast care, doctors advise all women to adhere to certain rules:
- Underwear should be as convenient and comfortable as possible. It should not rub and crush anywhere. You need to choose it according to all the rules. In addition, it is desirable to choose products made from natural fabrics.
- All infectious diseases must be treated on time. A neglected disease of an infectious nature eventually passes to other organs.
- Proper nutrition. Excessive consumption of fast food reduces the body's natural resistance and increases the risk of various diseases.
- Bad habits. Excessive alcohol consumption and smoking are not directly related to the appearance of breast ductectomy, however, it seriously affects the overall health of women.
- Regular (at least 1 time per year) visit to a mammologist. Timely detection of the disease means that breast ductectasia is easier to treat.
After considering all the features of this pathology, it became clear what breast ductectasis means and how important it is to diagnose and treat it in time. Attentiveness to your health is the first and most important requirement.