Fibrocystic disease
A spectrum of clinical, mammographic and histologic findings. Called 'not useful clinically' by multiple sources, as it refers to a heterogenous group of diseases and is found to some extent in the majority of women. Probably just an archaic term to be avoided - use the specific pathological correlate instead.
Epidemiology
[edit | edit source]- Common in 30-50yo women
- Lasts until menopause
Pathophysiology
[edit | edit source]- Exaggerated response of breast stroma and epithelium to various circulating and locally produced hormones and growth factors
- Fibrocystic change in itself is not a risk factor for the development of breast malignancy
Presentation
[edit | edit source]- Breast pain
- Pre-menstrual cyclical mastalgia
- Tenderness
- Nodularity
- Spectrum ranges from mild alterations in texture to dense, firm breast tissue with palpable masses
- May get large palpable cysts - typical of this disease
- May have identified solid elements - adenosis, sclerosis, apocrine metaplasia, stromal fibrosis, and epithelial metaplasia and hyperplasia
Investigation
[edit | edit source]- Mammography
- Diffuse or focal radiologically dense tissue
- Ultrasound
- Microcysts