Do I need treatment for breast (lobular) enlargement?

  Many patients ask, “Doctor, do I need to take medicine for breast enlargement (lobular hyperplasia)? Do I need treatment?  According to the degree and pathological characteristics of mammary hyperplasia, it can be divided into simple mammary hyperplasia and cystic hyperplasia of the breast.  Simple breast hyperplasia is still within the range of physiological hyperplasia and is self-healing. In contrast, cystic hyperplasia belongs to the category of pathological hyperplasia.  Cystic hyperplasia of the breast occurs in women between the ages of 30 and 50 years old before the end of their lives, and the factors that make them susceptible are the following: early menarche, late menopause, obesity, taking estrogen-containing supplements, and the use of uncomfortable cosmetics.  In order to prevent the misdiagnosis of cystic hyperplasia of the breast for malignant lesions, a combination of clinical physical examination, imaging examination and puncture biopsy triad is needed to make a clear diagnosis.  General treatment process: 1. If the ultrasound result suggests a clear simple cystic mass, puncture examination can be dispensed with and regular outpatient breast surgery follow-up can be performed.  2. If ultrasound results suggest complex cysts, puncture and fluid aspiration will be performed for clinically palpable cysts or close follow-up in breast surgery clinic; for cysts that are difficult to be palpated, puncture or biopsy can also be performed under ultrasound guidance. Depending on the results of the aspiration, there are two types of fluid: bloody and non-bloody. If the fluid is bloody, a hollow core needle or surgical precise biopsy is recommended to obtain an accurate pathology report. If the fluid is non-bloody and the cyst disappears completely after aspiration without recurrence, the patient can enter the follow-up status. 4-6 weeks later, a review will confirm whether the cyst has recurred or not. if the cyst recurs repeatedly after aspiration, surgical precise biopsy is recommended to obtain a pathology report.  One may ask why a biopsy of the hemorrhagic fluid is needed, as it prevents missed diagnosis of carcinoma in situ of the breast. Currently hollow core needles are less clinically used in cyst puncture and most accurate biopsies are still surgical excisional biopsies to obtain accurate pathology reports.