Mammary hyperplasia

Hyperplasia of the mammary gland is a breast disease caused by excessive growth of its tissue. It is very common, according to statistics, 8 out of 10 women are susceptible to this disease. It has another name - mastopathy. It usually occurs against the background of hormonal imbalances in the woman's body. This disease is not exclusively female. Hyperplasia of the mammary gland also occurs in men, although these are extremely rare cases and the causes of occurrence, age and course of the disease differ from the same problem in women.

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Causes breast hyperplasia

Hyperplastic processes in the mammary gland in women have recently become a fairly common disease, the age of people suffering from this pathology is from 20 to 70 years, it occurs in 2/3 of women in various forms.

The main cause of breast hyperplasia is a hormonal imbalance in the body. This may also include a woman's genetic predisposition, stress, long periods of breastfeeding, endocrine diseases, mechanical injuries to the breast, and working with harmful chemicals. Sometimes a malfunction in the body may be caused by taking other hormonal medications intended to treat other diseases, so after taking such medications, it is imperative to undergo an examination to detect this pathology.

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Symptoms breast hyperplasia

Of course, only a doctor can accurately determine the symptoms of breast hyperplasia, but you can notice the first signs yourself during a self-examination. These include:

• swelling and pain in the chest;
• nodular formations in the breast;
• chest pain radiating to the shoulder or armpit;
• nipple discharge of varying consistency and color;
• menstrual irregularities;
• deformation of the breast shape;
• Breast lumps may be hard or soft, located in the same place or mobile.

Unfortunately, some forms of hyperplastic processes in the mammary glands are asymptomatic, so only a medical examination can detect them.

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Forms

There are many types of this disease, they are divided by the causes of occurrence, that is, depending on what hormones in the woman's body have been disrupted. Below are the main types of this disease.

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Dyshormonal hyperplasia of the mammary glands

It occurs against the background of the development of hormonal imbalance in the woman’s body, usually has the character of benign changes in the structure of breast tissue and is treated with hormones selected by a doctor after a detailed study of the research results.

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Glandular hyperplasia of the mammary gland

These are excessive formations of glandular tissue of the breast, mostly disc-shaped and very mobile, so it is quite difficult to feel them during self-examination. Usually, there are no painful symptoms. This form of the disease has another name - adenosis. However, over time, adenosis progresses, the neoplasms become more noticeable, they expand. This is the danger of the disease, since it is difficult to determine it on your own in the early stages.

Hyperplasia of the mammary gland epithelium

This is an overgrowth of breast epithelial cells. It is most often seen in pregnant women, as their hormonal background changes in this state. Treatment is short and relatively easy, and in some cases, after childbirth, when hormones calm down and the body returns to its usual state, epithelial hyperplasia goes away on its own. But it is not recommended to wait for the disease to go away on its own; you should definitely consult a doctor and undergo an examination.

Diffuse hyperplasia of the mammary glands

This is one of the forms of pathology, which is characterized by the appearance of small, grain-like tumors and nodules in the breast. The main symptom is breast pain before the onset of menstruation, which most women do not pay attention to for many years, thereby triggering the development of pathology, which can subsequently lead to breast cancer.

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Nodular hyperplasia of the mammary gland

After some time, the neoplasms in the diffuse form grow in size and turn into dense nodes, the size of a cherry. Then the disease passes into the nodular form of pathology. Chest pains become stronger and more intense, bloody, milky or transparent liquid discharge from the nipples appears, and with the onset of menstruation, the symptoms do not go away. There are also fibrous and cystic types of the disease, they differ in the structure of the neoplasm, in fibrous - the formations are rough, heavy, with a clearly defined structure, do not move and can be easily felt. In the fibrous-cystic type, a cyst appears in the chest.

Ductal hyperplasia of the mammary glands

This form got its name due to the proliferation of epithelial tissue in the ducts of the breast. The symptoms and course of the disease are quite typical, in the early stages it is completely curable, in the later stages it turns into a precancerous condition. Without proper treatment it can transform into a malignant tumor.

Focal hyperplasia of the mammary gland

This is the appearance of seals not in a cluster, but in the form of separate neoplasms in tissues, the so-called foci. In fact, this is any type of disease, with the location of single tumors in different places. There may even be several types of pathology at once, such as fibrous and diffuse, for example. The danger of this form of the disease is that it is most prone to degeneration into a malignant form.

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Stromal hyperplasia of the mammary gland

This is a muscular fibrous tumor, quite rare, benign. It is expressed in the form of cracks in the muscle tissue of the chest, which are lined with myofibroblasts (degenerated fibroblast cells, which are usually found in muscle tissue and promote wound healing). Most often, this type of pathology occurs in women before or during menopause, in young girls it is extremely rare.

Fatty hyperplasia of the mammary glands

This is a tumor that forms in the breast from fatty tissue. It develops in a ball of subcutaneous connective tissue, is usually easily detected, has an average size and is easily cured with medication or surgical removal. If the problem is ignored, it can develop into liposarcoma - breast cancer, which is distinguished by the fact that it develops very quickly and affects both breasts.

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Atypical hyperplasia of the mammary gland

It differs from normal hyperplasia in that in addition to excessive tissue formation, structural changes occur in the cells themselves. This process is a more advanced form of pathology, in fact, even a precancerous condition. This form of the disease can be treated with medication, but surgical intervention is more often used.

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Lobular hyperplasia of the mammary gland

This pathology is divided into 2 types. In the first, the number of small adenosis ducts increases, and alveolar nodules of two-layer epithelium appear in the lobule itself. They are very mobile. In the second type of lobular hyperplasia, atypical, in addition to the occurrence of the tumors themselves, their cellular structure changes.

The occurrence of this type of pathology significantly increases the risk of breast cancer, especially in women aged 40 to 60 years; in other cases, the risk is lower, but still present.

Diagnostics breast hyperplasia

Diagnostics of breast hyperplasia consists of a whole range of studies. First of all, this is a self-examination by a woman, at least once a month, that is, checking the breast for nodules, lumps, and pain when touched. It is necessary to pay attention to the condition of the breast before, during, and after menstruation. At the slightest changes, pain, or neoplasms, you should contact a mammologist for further tests. The doctor will conduct a mammogram (breast X-ray), and if a tumor is found, he will take a cytology test, that is, check for benignity.

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Treatment breast hyperplasia

Treatment of mammary gland hyperplasia is very diverse and depends solely on the type of disease and stage of development.

If the disease is not atypical and at an early stage of development, then drug treatment is carried out aimed at eliminating the hyperplasia itself and possible causes of its occurrence, such as hormonal imbalance, stress, physical injuries.

The following hormonal drugs are prescribed for treatment.

• Remens is a drug that helps eliminate hormonal imbalance, normalize the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. Their disrupted work causes a failure of the hormonal system, which is the cause of pathology. The drug for this disease is taken 20 drops twice a day for three months. A side effect may be an allergic reaction to a component of the drug (with individual sensitivity).
• Ethinyl estradiol is a hormonal drug intended for the treatment of breast hyperplasia caused by estrogen deficiency. Indications for use are atypical forms of the disease, secondary estrogen deficiency and other diseases. The drug is taken from 0.05 mg to 0.1 mg at a time, three times a day. The course of treatment is usually long (2-4 months). Side effects of taking this drug can be considered hyperpigmentation of the skin, nausea, vomiting, weight gain and other disorders of the nervous and endocrine systems.
• Lindinet 20, 30 - a hormonal drug containing ethinyl estradiol and gestodene in appropriate proportions. This drug suppresses the growth of various neoplasms, regulates hormone levels. Indications for use are breast formations up to one centimeter in diameter, prevention of relapses after surgical removal of formations. Lindinet is taken from the first day of menstruation, one tablet per day, at the same time. After 21 tablets - a seven-day break. Further instructions are made by the attending physician, based on the tests. Side effects of this drug can be considered - allergic reaction, nausea, rash, inflammatory processes of the vagina and others.

In addition to hormones, iodine-containing and sedative drugs are also prescribed.

The following iodine-containing drugs are prescribed:

• Clamin is a drug containing iodine and other active substances secreted by the seaweed Laminaria. Clamin is recommended to improve the functional state of the breast and for a general strengthening effect. Take one tablet (or two capsules depending on the form of release) during meals three times a day. Side effects can be considered allergic reactions to the components of the drug.
• Potassium iodide is an iodine-containing drug. Indications for its use are disruption of the formation of thyroid hormones, which can cause pathology, and other diseases. Potassium iodide is taken from 100 to 200 mcg at a time, once a day. The duration of administration is determined by the attending physician. A side effect is an allergy.
• Iod-active is a preparation that combines iodine and milk protein, which allows the body to absorb only the required amount of iodine. Indications for the use of this drug are to reduce the risk of developing diseases associated with iodine deficiency. Take one or two tablets during meals once a day. Side effects may manifest themselves in the form of allergic reactions.

Recommended sedatives:

• Sibazon is a drug that has antispasmodic, antiarrhythmic and other effects. The indications for its use are the following ailments: neurotic disorders, insomnia, myositis, neurosis and others. Doses and frequency of administration are determined by the doctor, depending on the disease and stage. Side effects of the drug may be drowsiness, asthenia, shortness of breath, etc.
• Amizil is a sedative recommended for neuroses and nervous system disorders. Take one to two milligrams 4 times a day for four to six weeks. Side effects of Amizil include dryness (in the mouth), tachycardia, and convulsions.
• Grandaxin is a drug that acts as a psychovegetative regulator. It is recommended for depression, climacteric syndromes, neuroses, etc. Most often, the dose is one or two tablets from one to three times a day, determined by the doctor. Side effects are headaches, nausea, itchy skin and other changes in a person's condition.

If the hyperplasia of the mammary gland is atypical, or at a late stage, when there are a large number of neoplasms, surgical removal of tumors is used.

In the case of a benign tumor, the operation is called "sectoral resection" because the tumor is removed along with part of the breast. If the tumor is malignant, "extirpation" usually occurs, that is, complete removal of the breast, sometimes even with the lymph nodes and pectoral muscles, to prevent further spread of the disease.

Forecast

The prognosis for the development of breast hyperplasia is positive in most cases. Everything depends only on the benign nature of the neoplasms, the stage of the disease and how the disease will respond to treatment. If the diagnosis is made in time and the appropriate treatment is selected, then its success is very high.

To avoid or diagnose a disease such as breast hyperplasia in time, it is necessary to respond to any changes in your health, go to the doctor for a check-up at least once a year, and expose the body to as little stress as possible.

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