Mastopathy

• Note:

definition

Mastopathy is a remodeling reaction of the breast. Connective tissue is increasingly formed. Cell proliferation occurs in the milk ducts and the milk ducts expand.
More than half of all women are affected by conversion reactions of this masthopathy. However, only about 20% of the women affected suffer from pain that they lead to the doctor. The age of onset is between 35 and 55 years and occurs only during sexual maturity.

The root cause the mastopathy is still not fully explained. It is undoubtedly related to hormonal factors.
A special role plays a role here Progesterone imbalance and estrogen, with the estrogens predominating. Both psychological factors and a genetic predisposition seem to be responsible for this hormonal dysregulation.
In addition to these hormonal causes, hyperprolactinemia and Thyroid dysfunction observed, which are thus seen in connection with mastopathy.

Classification

Depending on the extent of the remodeling reactions, the mastopathies can be divided into 3 classes subdivide.

1. Degree of mastopathy: Occurrence in 70% of cases. There is no increased cell reproduction and no risk of degeneration.
2. Degree of mastopathy: exists in 20% of cases and the cells multiply. Nevertheless, there is hardly any increased risk of cancer, no atypia and it is not a precancerous stage.
3. Degree of masthopathy: In 10% of the affected patients there is cell proliferation with marked atypia. This increases the risk for Breast cancer by a factor of 3.

Symptoms

Women with mastopathy often experience pain and feelings of tension just before the onset Menstruation.
There may also be secretion from the Mamille (Nipple) and spontaneous milky secretions come from the mammary gland. In addition, the lump may be enlarged just before menstruation.

A Fibroadenoma does not cause symptoms and is usually not painful. Large fibroadenomas can cause a bump in the form of a bulge on the chest.

diagnosis

In the Mammography a diffuse compression of the tissue can be seen. Consist Calcification of the milk ducts, one recognizes this as so-called "Shotgun breast“.
Bumpy changes in the glandular body, which can be shifted relative to the skin, are palpable. The palpable changes can, however, be very different and therefore difficult to differentiate.

Note:

Every change in the breast, especially lumps, must be examined and assessed by a doctor as quickly as possible!

Please also read our page Detecting Breast Cancer.

Therapy masthoapthia

Treatment of mastopathy consists primarily of symptom relief.
A complete cure is hardly possible. In mastopathy grade 1 or 2, progesterone is applied as a gel or a gestagen-based ovulation inhibitor is given to compensate for the progesterone deficiency.
If there is a Mastopathy grade 3 the entire glandular body should be removed while preserving the nipple (nipple). This is particularly indicated if a relevant family history, i.e. Breast cancer in close relatives.
In any case, tissue should be removed to determine the exact degree of the disease and to be able to Carcinoma (malignant tumor) to exclude.

Read more about the here Signs of breast cancer.

Mastopathy of the man

General

Since with the term "mastopathy" a large number of proliferative or degenerative The remodeling processes of the mammary gland tissue are meant, this disease can occur in both women and men.
In most cases, the mastopathy in men is one hormonal disorder underlying. One of the most common causes of mastopathy in men is the degeneration of the breast tissue (benign ulcers or Breast cancer).
While breast cancer is one of the most common tumor diseases in women, this form of mastopathy is generally quite rare in men. Especially in men, the risk of developing breast cancer can be indicated by mastopathies family history can be increased significantly. Especially changes in the so-called "BRCA genes" play a crucial role in this context.
In addition, a spontaneous mutation of breast tissue can also occur in men. In these cases, there is no family history of breast cancer. According to some studies, men in particular have the so-called "Klinefelter Syndrome" (these men have one or more additional female X chromosomes) suffer a significantly increased risk of developing such a mastopathy.
Furthermore, mastopathy can also be caused by the smallest in men Calcifications caused (micro-limescale). In the course of these calcifications, the affected man enlarges the individual glandular lobes and the surrounding connective tissue becomes significantly more rigid.

Please also read our pages Lump in the man's chest and How do you recognize breast cancer in men?

With the exception of breast cancer, mastopathies cannot be treated specifically in both women and men. As a rule, only the symptoms associated with the mastopathy are treated (symptomatic treatment).
Painkillers (e.g. ibuprofen or paracetamol) and herbal remedies can be used to relieve the symptoms.
In the case of mastopathy in men, monk's pepper or locally applicable bingelkraut are particularly suitable. In addition, the discomfort caused by the changes in the breast tissue can be alleviated by homeopathic preparations (e.g. Phytolacca) or Schüßler salts.
While mastopathy in women usually disappears completely after the menopause, the causes of the changes in the breast tissue must be identified in affected men. In addition, if the symptoms persist, malicious changes should always be excluded. For this reason, mastopathy that occurs in men should also be examined with suitable imaging methods. In this context, the ultrasound examination of the breast is a particularly suitable diagnostic measure. If there is a specific suspicion of a malignant change in the breast tissue, a tissue removal (biopsy) can be performed.

therapy

The main aim of mastopathy treatment is to alleviate the symptoms caused by the remodeling processes in the mammary gland tissue.
In this context, patients suffering from mastopathy Painkiller take in. Especially analgesics that have the active ingredients Ibuprofen or Paracetamol are particularly useful for relieving mastopathy-related pain.

Since in most cases an imbalance in the hormonal balance of the affected patient is responsible for the development of the mastopathy, the therapy of this disease consists primarily of an equalization of the hormone concentrations.
If the symptoms persist, the possibly present one should be Excess estrogen through the gift of Progestin be balanced.
According to the therapy scheme, the affected patients (this only applies to affected women) must take a special progestin preparation from the 16th to the 25th day of the cycle, depending on the cycle.

In addition to pain, the remodeling processes of the breast tissue cause significant in many of the affected patients States of tension. In addition, the complaints typically do not occur permanently but at regular intervals. The therapy of these states of tension usually takes place via the administration of so-called "Prolactin inhibitors" (Synonym: lactation inhibitor).
In this way, remodeling processes of the mammary gland tissue can be inhibited and the symptoms felt by the affected patient can be significantly weakened.

Typically prescribed drugs should take effect after a few days if taken properly. A decrease in symptoms can therefore be expected very quickly after the initiation of suitable therapy. If the breast tissue does not respond to the selected therapy, a further visit to the treating specialist and, if necessary, a change in therapy strategy should take place as soon as possible.
In particularly pronounced cases of mastopathy, the secretion of estrogen can also be intervened directly. In this context, drugs that have the active ingredient are particularly suitable Danazol feature. When taken regularly, this active ingredient inhibits the release of estrogen.