Breast cysts, as with any other cyst, is a fluid filled epithelial cavity. It occurs due to blockage of the lobules allowing for fluid accumulation and distension.
Patients with a breast cyst is 2-3x more likely to develop breast cancer in the future.
🏘 Epidemiology
It occurs in 7% of Western females and makes up ~25% of all breast masses.
It is more common in peri-menopausal women.
😷 Presentation
It will present as a lump, the features of this lump are:
- Smooth
- Mobile
- Fluctuant (sometimes)
- Tender (not always)
- Size changes depending on menstrual cycle
Patients may have a single cyst, or multiple, unilaterally or bilaterally even.
🔍 Investigations
If cysts are constantly refilling or have bloody fluid when aspirated, a biopsy should be done or excision.
One must always exclude breast cancer, so a triple assessment may be needed. However, on USS a cyst will be easily identifiable through acoustic enhancement.
🧰 Management
Cysts usually self-resolve, however, if they are too large we can aspirate them.
