Ectasia is a pathological expansion of the walls of the vessel or duct of the gland that is observed in a particular area. Most often, the internal jugular vein or mammary gland undergoes painful changes. The disease occurs in middle-aged and elderly patients. If with the expansion of the milk ducts the signs of pathology are clearly expressed, then venous ectasia can be asymptomatic for a long time, but at the same time progress.
Causes of venous ectasia
With vein ectasia, the lumen of the vessel widens in a limited area. Pathology begins to develop in young years, but manifests itself in patients after the age of 40 years.
The main cause of this disease is excessive exercise. And also provoke changes in blood vessels can injuries, hormonal disorders, abnormalities in metabolism.
Most often, jugular vein ectasia (phlebectasia) occurs. This vessel passes in the neck. The disease occurs due to a malfunction of the vein valves. The cause of the pathology is the following factors:
- injuries to the head and cervical spine;
- work requiring prolonged sitting in an uncomfortable position;
- osteochondrosis;
- endocrine and cardiovascular diseases.
Symptoms of the jugular vein
For a long time, the disease develops without external manifestations. Only a few years later, the initial signs of ectasia occur. This is a swelling and the formation of a “pouch” of blue color in the neck vein area. At first, pain is not felt. Pathology can be noticed only with a medical examination.
As the disease develops, a pain syndrome occurs. Unpleasant sensations and discomfort appear with vocal tension or turns of the head. In advanced cases, pain in the neck becomes constant, the patient has difficulty breathing, his voice becomes hoarse. Pathology requires immediate treatment, since disruption of the internal jugular vein affects the functioning of all body systems.
Diagnosis and treatment of venous ectasia
If a pathology is suspected, a comprehensive diagnosis is necessary. The doctor prescribes a series of studies to detect venous ectasia. This is a duplex scan of the cervical vessels, MRI of the head, ultrasound of the cervical spine, as well as venosinusography.
The choice of treatment depends on the degree of impairment. If the pathology is small, then conduct dynamic monitoring of the patient's condition. The patient is recommended to reduce the load on the spine. Analgesics are prescribed to relieve pain. If ectasia progresses, then they do a surgical operation. The affected area of the vein is removed and the healthy parts of the vessel are sutured.
Causes of enlarged breast duct
Breast ectasia is the expansion of their ducts, which is not associated with lactation. In a healthy woman, a small amount of milk is constantly formed in the breast, even during the period when she does not feed the baby. Normally, this substance is absorbed during the duct and does not stand out.
With ectasia of the milk duct, fluid accumulates and exits. Discharge from the nipples appears. We can name the following causes of pathology:
- This phenomenon is often observed in women during menopause and menopause due to endocrine rearrangement of the body.
- Increased secretion of the hormone prolactin can cause blockage of the duct of the mammary gland.
- Injury to the chest can lead to deformation of the ducts.
- Malignant breast tumors often lead to ectasia. This is the most dangerous type of expansion of the milk ducts, which requires immediate treatment.
- Advanced inflammation of the mammary glands.
The risk group includes women from 45 to 55 years old who have a history of artificial termination of pregnancy or breast surgery. Ectasia can also provoke wearing too tight and tight underwear.
Symptoms of expansion of the milk ducts
Signs of ectasia are usually pronounced. The shape of the nipples changes, they become flat, and sometimes even retracted. White discharge from the mammary glands appears. The area around the nipple swells, the skin becomes rough. The patient is concerned about pain, burning and itching.
Pathology can be detected using mammography and ultrasound of the mammary glands. Ductography is also done - an x-ray of the mammary glands with filling the ducts with a contrast agent.
Methods of treatment and prevention of breast ectasia
The choice of treatment for ectasia depends on the cause of the pathology. If the expansion of the milk ducts is associated with infectious inflammation of the gland, then antibacterial and antiviral drugs are prescribed. If the pathology arose due to an excess of prolactin or climacteric changes, then hormone therapy is performed.
If pharmacological treatment was ineffective, then resort to surgery. Remove the affected areas or the entire duct completely. An indication for surgery is the presence of a tumor and papillomas in the canal.
To prevent the development of pathology, women over 40 need to undergo a mammogram examination regularly. It must be remembered that any injuries to the mammary gland are very dangerous, so you need to protect your chest from bumps, bruises and shaking. It is important for patients to monitor the state of the hormonal background of the body.
Breast ectasia is easily treatable in the early stages. But in advanced cases, pathology can provoke the development of mastopathy and tumors. Therefore, with the appearance of chest pain and discharge from the nipples, it is urgent to visit a mammologist.