Fragmentary ductal ectasia of the mammary glands. Symptoms and treatment of ductal ectasia of the breast

Content:

Milk duct ectasia (duct ectasia) is the expansion of the milk ducts. The condition is not considered pathological if there is a periodic return to the previous forms. If there is a constantly present expansion, they speak of a symptom of one of the serious pathologies of the female breast, which must be diagnosed as early as possible. Ectasia is mainly observed in women aged 40-47 years, but can be diagnosed in both young and older age groups.

Status Description

Milk is produced in the female body constantly, regardless of whether breastfeeding is in progress or has long been completed. It’s just that its amount is negligible and it doesn’t reach the nipple - it dissolves “along the way”. In this regard, with unintentional squeezing of the lactiferous duct, the secret may stagnate in some place, expanding the channel. When his permeability is restored, everything returns to normal.

The condition refers to benign changes occurring in the breast. Ectasia can be both a harbinger of aging (age-related changes) and a sign of a serious illness.

Pathological expansion of the milk ducts is observed in the following cases:

Intraductal papilloma. A dangerous condition that is characterized by discharge of various colors from the nipple, often with an admixture of blood. Considered as a precursor.
Mastopathy. Pathology occurs due to an excess of estrogen in the body of a woman. The hormone provokes the growth of glandular tissue responsible for the production of milk. Expanded in this case, the ducts are one of the symptoms of mastopathy.
Ectasia. The condition is accompanied by a constant increase in the width of the milk ducts, inside which inflammatory processes can begin in parallel. Discharge of contents from nipples is characteristic.
Intraductal cyst. Unlike papilloma, it is not considered as a precancerous condition, however, it causes the expansion of the milk ducts. This happens due to the clamping of the channels through which the milk leaves. As a result of stagnation, a cavity filled with a secret is formed. Then it closes with a fibrin membrane, turning into a cyst. The lack of timely diagnosis becomes the impetus for the onset of the cystic form of mastopathy.

Helpful information! The milk ducts expand and return to normal within one monthly cycle. In the second phase, the woman's body actively produces progesterone. It causes the expansion of the milk channels (the same thing happens during pregnancy). By the beginning of menstruation, the amount of this hormone gradually decreases and the milk ducts inside the breast return to normal.

Causes of ectasia of the mammary glands

The condition may occur due to one provoking factor or due to several at once. The main causes of ectasia:

Breast trauma. They can be obtained both independently (chest impact on a corner, hard surface), and during surgery (installation of implants, removal of a neoplasm).
Failure of the hormonal background. Occurs due to malfunction of the ovaries (dysfunction), pituitary gland.
Inflammation of the mammary gland. Lactostasis or stagnation of milk in the milk ducts can cause them to expand, and then develop into mastitis. The result is a pronounced swelling of the breast tissue, fever, chest pain.
Menopausal changes in the body. The restructuring of the hormonal background during this period often provokes the expansion of the milk ducts.

Helpful information! Ectasia can also occur due to neoplasms in the mammary gland. If they are large, there is a clamping of the lactiferous duct in one place and its expansion due to the accumulation of a secret in another.

Symptoms of ectasia of the mammary glands

The condition can be asymptomatic and only be detected during a routine physical examination by a mammologist. You need to be alert if the following symptoms occur:

discharge from the nipples - a typical sign of ectasia of the mammary glands;
the presence of seals, painful when palpated, often in the area under the areola;
discomfort in the nipples - tickling, burning;
change in the appearance of the nipples - redness, swelling, granularity, displacement to the side, elongated shape;
poor general condition - weakness, chills, subfebrile temperature indicators;
regular disruptions in the menstrual cycle;
redness on the skin of the chest, engorgement of the glands on certain days of the cycle.

It is important to know! By itself, the expansion of the ducts goes unnoticed for a woman. If no other signs are observed, and a regular physical examination is not carried out, ectasia can be asymptomatic for a long time. It is found in connection with some other disease.

Types of breast ectasia

The milk ducts may be dilated in both breasts or only one. In the first case, they talk about bilateral ectasia, in the second about local. If the condition is stable, does not worsen, there are no other symptoms, treatment is not indicated.

However, bilateral ectasia in 50% of cases turns out to be pathological, which means that a thorough diagnosis of the patient is necessary. Differentiation from possible malignant processes is required.

Diagnosis of ectasia of the mammary glands

An appointment with a doctor begins with a conversation with the patient and fixing complaints (if any). This is followed by examination and palpation of the mammary glands. Ultrasound and mammography are used as the main methods of hardware examination.

Ultrasound is informative for the diagnosis of breast ectasia. Mammography allows you to see the ducts as if from the inside, to determine if there are neoplasms (cysts, papillomas). A variation of this method is ductography. This is the same X-ray of the breast, only with the introduction of a contrast agent into the ducts. With the help of ductography, the patency of the channels is determined, the presence of neoplasms in them.

Another mandatory study is a smear-imprint of nipple secretions. Fluid analysis allows you to determine if there is an inflammatory process. Also, blood is always donated for hormones and a biopsy if neoplasms are found.

Treatment of ductal ectasia of the breast

Therapy can be conservative and operational. Drug treatment is usually complex, aimed at stopping the pathology that caused the ectasia of the mammary gland. Additionally, unpleasant symptoms are always removed, if any, immunity is strengthened.

Surgical treatment is required if neoplasms are found inside the ducts. The complexity of the operation depends on the diagnosis:

If the histology did not show the presence of atypical cells, the dilated duct (or part of it) and epithelial cells are removed.
If the neoplasm in the breast is determined to be malignant, all milk ducts are removed.

The intervention is performed under full anesthesia. Damage to the chest is minimal due to the imposition of cosmetic stitches. Contraindications to surgical intervention are heart pathologies and the desire of a woman in the future to give birth and feed a child on her own.

Important! With timely seeking medical help, breast ectasia can be completely cured.

Prevention

To prevent ectasia of the mammary glands, the following points must be observed:

Control hormone levels.
Strengthen immunity.
Regularly do screening studies (ultrasound, mammography).
Protect your chest from injury.
Take care of your breasts and nipples regularly.
Choose underwear according to size.
Do not smoke or drink alcohol.
Eat properly.
Watch your weight.

If self-examination reveals a suspicious neoplasm in the breast, make an appointment with a specialist.

It is important to know! In about 25% of cases, ectasia is a concomitant symptom of a disease such as carcinoma. If a woman categorically refuses to do a biopsy, she is at great risk.

Ectasia of the mammary glands at first glance seems to be a benign condition, but this is far from being the case. Usually, the expansion of the milk ducts is a symptom of a more formidable pathology, for example, mastopathy.

Dear readers, how was ectasia discovered in you? Were there any external manifestations, indurations on palpation, pain along the duct? What therapy was prescribed by your doctor? If someone received surgical treatment, tell us if there were scars or scars on the chest, if it was painful after the operation, how was the recovery period.

The expansion of the ducts of the mammary gland is a dangerous condition for the female body, when an infection enters them. As a result of a pathological phenomenon, harmful bacteria and microbes begin to accumulate in the enlarged ducts, which gives the green light to the development of the inflammatory process. Occurs rarely. The risk zone for breast disease includes women in premenopausal age.

What is pathology?

One of the structural units of the mammary gland is the alveolus. It contains ducts, which are normally narrow and tortuous. When the alveoli come together, the ducts unite and, as a result, go to one point - the opening of the nipple. Path expansion occurs for various reasons. In some cases, this is not considered a deviation, but there are cases when such a picture on an ultrasound indicates the development of a pathology.

In what cases is a pathological phenomenon the norm, and when is it a deviation?

The causes that cause an increase in milk passageways are divided into two large groups: natural and pathological. In the first case, no special treatment is required. In case of pathology, treatment is necessary.

natural factors:

Carrying a child. During pregnancy, the production of a hormone such as progesterone increases significantly in the female body. This phenomenon prepares the mother for bearing and growing crumbs, affecting the thoracic ducts: they expand to supply milk. Thus, the woman will be able to breastfeed the baby. After lactation is completed, the ducts return to their usual size after two months. With the formation of inflammation in the chest at this time, the increase in pathways is considered pathological.
period of menstruation. At this time, the body of the fairer sex is waiting for possible fertilization, which affects the size of the ducts. In the absence of pregnancy, the paths narrow after the end of the cycle.
Time . This is the most common cause of the expansion of the milk ducts that occurs in women over 40. The enlargement of the ducts occurs against the background of a hormonal failure.

Such phenomena are not considered pathological. Here, only a doctor's consultation and periodic examinations are enough to avoid the development of complications.

There are a number of pathological factors that are considered potential diseases and require full therapy. Here are the following reasons:

Ectasia. Irreversible expansion of the milk ducts, in which inflammation develops and discharge from the nipple occurs.
. With hormonal imbalances, an increase in estrogen levels can occur. As a result, the glands become larger, the ducts expand. There are frequent cases of the formation of an inflammatory process with the progression of mastopathy.
. When a large volume of foreign fluid accumulates in the duct, it leads to the formation of a cystic formation. It can develop inflammation. The cyst tends to rupture.
. Such neoplasms are formed in very rare cases. But they pose a threat to human health. After all, papilloma has a predisposition to degeneration into an oncological tumor.

If a woman is diagnosed with one of the above diseases, medical advice should not be neglected. Otherwise, such phenomena can threaten the life of the fairer sex.

Symptoms of a pathological condition

The expansion of the milk tract is manifested by very characteristic signs. The chest becomes inflamed, fluid may be released from it for no reason. The nipple changes, itches and burns. Such symptoms often indicate other diseases of the breast. Therefore, attention should be paid to the more specific symptoms that appear during the expansion of the pathways. This is soreness of the chest when touched, strange discharge from the nipple in large quantities. The patient may complain of discomfort in the mammary gland, which increases closer to the nipple.

For an accurate diagnosis with the above manifestations, it is necessary to urgently seek medical help.

Identification of a pathological condition

To begin with, the doctor interviews the patient, collects an anamnesis, and makes a visual examination. When making a diagnosis, it is important to draw up a complete symptomatic picture. After that, if necessary, the woman is sent for additional diagnostic procedures. This may be the delivery of tests (blood and discharge, if any), ductography, and also an immunohistochemical study of a tissue site.

The last analysis is carried out with a small element of the biomaterial to exclude the presence. With dilated ducts visible on an ultrasound machine, it is impossible to judge the development of the disease. This may indicate the possibility of their pathological increase, which can be prevented in a timely manner.

When there is an expansion of the paths of the mammary gland, there is a need for differential diagnosis with mastitis, breast cancer, mastopathy and papillomas inside the ducts.

What threatens the expansion of the ducts?

Expansion of the ducts against the background of natural developmental factors does not require special treatment. But a woman should be periodically examined by a specialist so that complications do not develop. Otherwise, the formation of a number of consequences is possible:

mastitis, mastopathy (inflammatory process in overly dilated tracts);
cyst (occurs as a result of accumulation of fluid);
ectasia (irreversible enlargement of the ducts with their further inflammation).

Often there is a picture of a vicious circle of complications and reasons for the expansion of paths. For example, due to progression, the ducts increase, which in turn exacerbates inflammation.

But paths that are too narrow can also cause mastitis. This phenomenon is typical for nursing mothers.

Treatment

Expansion of the ducts in the absence of inflammation and other abnormalities is not a pathology, therefore, treatment, and even more so surgery, is not required here.

When such a picture appeared on the screen of the ultrasound machine, it is worth donating blood for hormones. After all, the cause of the phenomenon is often a hormonal imbalance. After assessing the amount of estrogen, prolactin and thyroid hormone in a woman's body, the doctor, if necessary, will prescribe special medications that normalize the hormonal background.

Antibacterial therapy is indicated when an inflammatory process in the ducts and the presence of infection are detected. Accompanying here will be anti-inflammatory, restorative and immunocorrective treatment.

Simple observation of the epithelial tissue of the ducts and control over the possible appearance of signs of pathology is sufficient with the expansion of the paths, which is formed due to age-related changes in the mammary gland. With the development of the inflammatory process, doctors often tend to use surgical treatment.

The operation is also performed when the cystic formation turns into cancer, or when it appears in the same area many times. In other situations, the cyst is not removed, unlike papillomas. They are excised immediately, because of the high risk of degeneration into a malignant tumor.

Based on the above information, it becomes clear that the prescribed therapy depends entirely on the cause that provoked the increase in the milk ducts.

homeopathic therapy

Homeopathic preparations are used as prophylactic means for the development of complications in the expansion of paths. Only the attending physician can prescribe them after studying the results of tests and hardware examination.

Consider the most popular homeopathic medicines for breast disease:

Viburkol. The drug, pain, inflammation, both in the reproductive system and throughout the body.
Mastodinon. Medicine made on the basis of herbal ingredients. It improves the production of prolactin, which allows you to eliminate the progression of diffuse forms of mastopathy.
Cyclodynon. Normalizes the content of sex hormones and prolactin in the female body, acting positively on the condition of the mammary gland.
Dysmenorm. A drug that normalizes the production of hormones in the fairer sex. It balances estrogen and prosterogen.
Gynecohel. Herbal medicine that normalizes the functioning of the female reproductive system. It is prescribed to the representative of the weaker sex with menstrual disorders as a result of age-related or other changes. Eliminates inflammation and infections of the reproductive system.
Klimaktoplan. A remedy prescribed for women in the period before menopause and during menopause itself. Able to restore hormonal balance in the appendages, pituitary and adrenal cortex.

"Grandma's" recipes

Folk remedies are not able to cope with the pathological expansion of the milk ducts. But they work well in order to prevent complications of the disease. List of the most effective folk medicines:

As a compress for the whole night, wrap a burdock leaf on the inflamed chest.
The juice of the above plant is taken orally one large spoonful three times in 24 hours. The course of treatment is two months.
Tea from burdock root, peony, nettle leaves and leuzea, taken in equal proportions, is effective. For one liter of freshly boiled water, take a small spoonful of the mixture, leave the product overnight. After drinking an hour before a meal three times a day. The duration of therapy is one month. Then a break is made for 10 days, and the treatment is repeated.
A popular remedy for breast diseases is the cabbage leaf. The mammary gland is lubricated with honey, after which it is covered with a cabbage leaf on top (it is first beaten off to let the juice go).

Such treatment will become more effective if you give up bad habits, follow a healthy lifestyle, and examine your breasts periodically on your own, by palpation.

Rules for the prevention of breast disease

The main recommendations of doctors to women are regular hygiene procedures, examinations by a mammologist, especially if there is a genetic predisposition to the development of the disease, maintaining a healthy and, if possible, active lifestyle.

In addition, a woman should protect her breasts from injury, eat properly and balanced, not overstrain, and constantly maintain immunity. Rest should be complete, the nerves are in order.

An important point in the preventive rules is the selection of underwear. The bra should not press or be too loose. An incorrectly selected shape of it will provoke a deformation of the mammary gland, disrupt blood circulation in its vessels. This is especially true for women with large breasts, overweight.

Do not forget about self-examination. If there are deviations in the form, nodules, tumors, changes in the color of the skin in the chest area, you should consult a doctor and make sure that there is no risk of developing breast pathology.

Disease prediction

If the expansion of the milk ducts is not accompanied by inflammation or infection, it is enough to periodically be examined by a mammologist, perform an ultrasound or mammography. With the development of some complications, such as ectasia, the increase in pathways becomes irreversible.

The expansion of the milk ducts is not a disease, but it becomes a reason for a woman to be more attentive to her health. With a timely appeal for help to a medical institution, and compliance with all medical prescriptions, the pathological condition will pass by itself, without causing complications. If an inflammatory process begins to develop, treatment is indispensable. Otherwise, irreversible path changes are possible.

The progressive expansion of the ducts in the mammary gland and their subsequent inflammation leads to a disease such as ectasia of the milk ducts. Histological features may vary depending on the stage of the condition, but in the early stages, the ducts dilate and fill with proteinaceous eosinophilic material with or without inflammation. As a rule, this disorder usually affects women between the ages of 30 and 80 and especially in the period before menopause.

Description of the state of the ducts

Ectasia is a non-tumor pathology in which the milk ducts in the mammary gland are dilated. The causes of mammary duct ectasia are unknown, but it is thought that estrogens may play a role in this process on an autoimmune basis.

The female breast consists of mammary glands and canals(ducts that carry milk to the nipple), surrounded by glandular, fibrous and adipose tissue.

As women approach menopause and age 35 or older, the canals behind the nipple contract and expand. This is called flow ectasia or ductectasia.

Sometimes a secretion is released, which can be collected in dilated ducts. This can irritate the liners and cause pain. And there may also be discharge of these secretions through the nipple, which are usually thick but may also be watery. It happens that a lump is felt behind the nipple. This may be because the tissue behind the nipple is infected or damaged. The nipple may be pulled inward as the canals contract.

This disorder is not a serious disease, but it is due to the occurrence of changes in the body, which are an indicator of dangerous disorders that require surgical intervention. Care must be taken immediately to prevent the development of a disease that can lead to other more serious disorders, especially of an infectious type.

So far, there are no reports that mammary ectasia is associated with an increased risk of cancer, however some species may show flat metaplasia predisposing to primary spinocellular carcinoma of the breast.

Clinical picture and symptoms

It is necessary to identify the signs of this disorder in a timely manner in order to consult a specialist in a timely manner. In the early stages of breast duct disease, this the disorder is usually manifested by discharge from the nipples of the breast, which can be:

white;
brown;
gray or green;
bloody.

Increased release of prolactin in the blood causes an increase in the formation of viscous milk, from which clots form. They close the channels, which leads to an increase in pressure and expansion of the channels. This disorder can be caused by:

hormonal disorders;
inflammatory processes;
trauma;
hormonal changes during menopause;
neoplasms.

Neoplasms (tumors, polyps) located near the artery interfere with milk production, as they compress the channels.

Symptoms of flow ectasia may include isolating eczema and burning or. Symptomatology develops in such a way that often the patient does not immediately notice the above symptoms. Main symptoms:

chest pain;
discomfort - pain, itching;
secretion of a white or yellow liquid.

Ectasia can be complicated by mastitis, which can lead to mastalgia, a fixed tumor, deformity of the breast profile, and sometimes axillary lymph node enlargement.

Diagnostic methods

Causes and treatment of dilated mammary ducts are determined by the clinical diagnosis, which should include exclusion of carcinoma by cytological examination of nipple secretion and other in-depth investigations, including mammography, magnetic resonance imaging, and biopsy. For diagnostics are used:

determination of the level of hormones in the blood;
mammography;
bacteriological, microscopic examination of the secreted fluid.

The most important method is mammography, which is an X-ray examination of the breast. Pap smear analysis may indicate the presence of inflammation.

Treatment of milk duct ectasia

Most cases of ectasia do not require any treatment, as it is a normal part of aging. However, when complications arise (eczema, abscess, and mastalgia), the physician may recommend appropriate targeted treatments (eg, antibiotic therapy for forms that exhibit inflammatory aspects caused by bacteria).

Each breast contains a number of milk ducts(from 8 to 15), which make up part of the breast tissue. They run from the milk lobules to the nipples. When the diameter of one duct increases, a painful fluid-filled cyst is created. When diagnosing dilated canals, doctors can perform a number of procedures to treat cysts.

The primary treatment for dilatation (expansion) of the canal and cyst is drainage, which removes fluid from inside the cyst and causes it to collapse. During a drainage procedure, doctors insert a thin needle through the patient's skin into a dilated canal. The doctor then slowly removes fluid from inside the cyst and then analyzes the cyst fluid for abnormal cells. After drainage, the patient may experience some mild discomfort at the needle insertion site, which can be treated with an over-the-counter pain reliever.

After draining the cyst, regular monitoring is necessary to assess the condition of the breast. Although dilated ducts are benign, non-cancerous conditions, in some cases, recurrent breast lumps and duct abnormalities may be associated with a greater risk of cancer.

Some dilated ducts may show atypical hyperplasia, an overgrowth of abnormal cells that can increase the risk of developing breast cancer. If ectasia occurred when tissue was compressed by a tumor or deformation of the gland led to a shift in structures after sclerosis and chronic inflammation, then surgical intervention is used under general anesthesia. Sectoral resection is the most common, less often - complete removal of the breast along with lymph nodes and with malignant tumors.

Patients with aggressive recurrent (recurring clinical manifestations) lactiferous duct ectasias may choose to have the affected duct surgically removed to prevent the development of enlarged ducts in the future.

In addition, patients whose dilated ducts contain abnormal cells may choose to have surgery to remove potentially precancerous cells.

The operation is the removal of the affected canal, leaving the rest of the breast tissue unchanged.

If the ducts are dilated on the ultrasound of the mammary gland, then this problem cannot be ignored, since this pathology can lead to bad consequences.

What are dilated mammary ducts

In the mammary gland there are alveoli, each of which has its own duct (for the outflow of milk). On ultrasound, the duct should be thin and tortuous. When the alveoli gather in groups (40-50 each), their ducts unite and become much larger. As a result, all the ducts connect and go to one point - the opening of the nipple. The expansion of these paths can occur for various reasons. In women 40-45 years old, this is even considered the norm, due to changes in the hormonal background. Also, expansion is considered normal in pregnant and breastfeeding women. But, the rest of the females should pay attention to the presence of this pathology after the ultrasound scan.

What does the expansion of the ducts of the mammary gland look like on ultrasound

On ultrasound, 3 "mammary glands" can be seen. The first is subcutaneous, which consists of fatty deposits. The second is mammary, it directly represents the mammary gland. The third is retromarine, which is the protoday of the fat lobes. In order to find the ducts, you will need to examine the second (mammary) layer well. Directly this level will be detected on ultrasound as a hyperechoic area. Against its background, hypoechoic thin structures, which are the so-called ducts, should be clearly visible. Their width is normal, should not be more than 2 mm. If the diameter is larger, then you should pay attention to this pathology.
Breast ultrasound result

When to perform an ultrasound scan so that the diagnosis of duct pathology is correct?

In order to determine the day for the study, it is necessary to analyze the phases of the menstrual cycle and the state of the ducts at this time. The first phase, the so-called follicular (8-15 days of the cycle), is characterized by the proliferation of the ducts of the mammary glands. The second, luteal phase (16-21 days of the cycle), indicates the end of proliferation, expansion of the glands and swelling of the alveoli. Normally, these changes are expressed on ultrasound rather weakly. But, an inexperienced doctor may not notice the changes and take them for granted. Therefore, based on the foregoing, it is better to go for an ultrasound examination of the mammary glands after 4-5 days of the end of menstruation, it is at this time that the diagnosis will be most accurate and correct.

What symptoms of dilated ducts can a woman notice before an ultrasound?

A woman should go for an ultrasound scan with suspected breast duct dilatation if she has some of the symptoms. These clinical signs include:

mild chest pain
"hidden" nipple (if you press it with two fingers, it will be pulled inward),
burning sensation around the areola,
itching in the nipple area,
slightly swollen condition of the areola,
hyperemia of the nipple and the surrounding area,
yellow or light green discharge from the nipple.

Self-diagnosis will not lead to an accurate diagnosis, since a woman will not be able to independently approve the diagnosis of this pathology. Therefore, having these symptoms, the girl is obliged to go for an ultrasound scan to diagnose the presence of breast pathologies.

Why is the expansion of the ducts of the mammary gland detected on ultrasound dangerous?

Expansion of the ducts of more than 2 mm is not the norm in all women, except for those over 40, pregnant and lactating. This pathology, detected on ultrasound, is dangerous, as it can lead to various diseases of the mammary gland. So, the expansion of the ducts, if left untreated, can cause:

Mastitis. The relationship between these two diseases is quite simple. In the expanded ducts, infections and microorganisms enter faster, and linger in them. As a result of the inflammatory process caused by microorganisms, mastitis occurs.
Ectasia. This is the most promising variant of the development of dilated ducts found on ultrasound. The disease leads to their further expansion, as a result of which the nipple is damaged, an inflammatory process begins in its area, accompanied by unpleasant discharge.
Cystic neoplasms. Extensions can indeed provoke the formation of cysts. This is due to the accumulation of secretions in the duct, their subsequent stagnation and encapsulation.
Papillomas. These neoplasms appear in much the same way as cysts, but are more dangerous. It is worth considering that under certain conditions, papillomas can degenerate into malignant tumors, so you should be more serious about "a simple expansion of the ducts of the mammary gland."

As can be seen from the above, women with an ultrasound report about the presence of dilated ducts should immediately consult a doctor for treatment, since the postponement of the problem can lead to irreversible consequences.

What to do after the detection of this pathology on ultrasound?

Since a slight increase in the ducts is allowed, there is no surgical or conservative treatment (aimed specifically at reducing them).

However, if an ultrasound detects an abnormal diameter of the ducts, a woman needs to check the hormonal background. Perhaps the increase in pathways is due to an imbalance of estrogen, prolactin, or thyroid hormones. Perhaps, if their content in the body of a woman is regulated, the ducts will decrease in diameter and acquire a healthy appearance.

In the event that an ultrasound diagnosis of an increase in the milky tract is made in women over the age of 40, then they just need to monitor the condition of the breast. This means that once a year a woman should do an ultrasound and consult a doctor. If an inflammatory process of the mammary gland is detected on a repeated ultrasound examination, then usually a woman is offered a surgical method for treating the problem.

With cystic neoplasms arising from dilated ducts of the mammary glands, conservative treatment is prescribed. Surgery is used only in cases where the cyst is malignant.

Ectasia, or ductectasia, of the mammary glands is a disease that is characterized by pathological expansion of the ducts, which are also called subareolar canals. Usually this disease occurs due to age-related changes and is diagnosed in women aged 40–45 years. Most often, with timely treatment, this disease does not pose a health hazard, although in some cases it can lead to serious consequences.

Medical Center "Energo" is a clinic where they provide assistance in solving many health problems, including mammological ones. The course of treatment for each patient is developed individually, taking into account the characteristics of his body and the specifics of the course of the disease.

Ductectasia: causes

Among the reasons that can cause this disease, experts usually include:

hormonal changes in the body, primarily excessive production of prolactin (female sex hormone), which has an age-related condition: an excess of the hormone can lead to a kind of clogging of the ducts by epithelial cells. In some cases, hormonal failure can also be caused by taking certain drugs, contraceptive or hormonal;
inflammatory processes: acute or chronic inflammation can also cause the expansion of the milk ducts;
natural change in the structure and shape of the channel: observed in women during menopause and postmenopause;
breast injuries, including surgical interventions;
the presence of a polyp or ductal papilloma in the ducts of the mammary gland: both belong to the category of benign tumors, however, they can cause expansion of the duct;
malignant tumors in the breast.

Ductectasia: consequences

Usually, ductectasia is considered as a disease that is not dangerous for women's health. However, it must be borne in mind that the very presence of dilated milk ducts indicates either inflammation, or hormonal failure, or the presence of tumors. All this requires close attention on the part of a woman, since both progressive inflammation and hormonal failure can negatively affect various body systems (cardiovascular, nervous, genitourinary) and the general well-being of the patient.

The greatest attention should be paid to the possible presence of neoplasms, benign and malignant, the timely diagnosis of which is the key to the success of their treatment.

Ductectasia: symptoms

Ductectasia of the ducts of the mammary glands refers to diseases with fairly pronounced symptoms, which usually include:

soreness in the chest;
seals in the areola, found on palpation;
itching and burning in the nipples;
swelling and redness of the tissues of the nipple;
retraction of the nipple or its displacement relative to the normal position;
discharge from the nipple: considered one of the main symptoms. In the normal state, a small amount of milk produced by the glands does not reach the nipple. In the case of ectasia, the discharge may vary, from whitish to yellowish to brown, bloody. The latter require special attention, as they may indicate the possible presence of a tumor.

In the case of a disease such as ectasia, the success of getting rid of it largely depends on the speed of detection of this disease, because it is much easier to treat it in the early stages. That is why, when the first signs of a possible illness or other unpleasant symptoms appear, you should seek advice from.

Primary appointment

The initial appointment with a specialist involves a survey and examination of the patient: fixing complaints, leaving a family history (if necessary), palpation of the mammary glands and the appointment of additional diagnostic procedures.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of a disease such as ductectasia is intended not only to differentiate it from other diseases with similar symptoms, but also to find out the cause of the expansion of the channels, because the choice of a way to solve the problem will depend on this.

Diagnosis of ectasia includes:

: allows you to assess the condition of the ducts and the presence of neoplasms (polyps, papillomas or tumors);
: provides dynamic, more accurate information about an existing problem;
smear-imprint of discharge from the nipple: allows you to determine the presence of inflammation, suggest the presence of a neoplasm;
a blood test for hormones: may be prescribed if there is a suspicion of a hormonal imbalance;
biopsy: may also be done if neoplasms of unknown etiology are found.
ductography: this is an X-ray examination of the milk ducts of the mammary gland with the introduction of a contrast agent into them. This method is a type of mammography.

Treatment plan

If the diagnosis confirms the initially assumed diagnosis of ductectasia of one or both mammary glands (bilateral ectasia), the treatment prescribed by the specialist will be aimed at eliminating the manifestations of the disease and the causes of its occurrence.

In most cases, with the expansion of the ducts, conservative treatment is indicated, focused on the factors that caused the disease. So, if chronic or acute inflammation was detected during the diagnosis, the patient will be prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as complexes aimed at general strengthening of the immune system.

With a hormonal factor in the onset of the disease, the goal of treatment will be to normalize the hormonal background, which is achieved by taking a number of hormonal drugs. The set and dosage of such drugs are determined by a specialist based on the age of the patient, her general well-being, the presence of concomitant diseases. Taking any hormonal drugs is possible only after prior consultation with a doctor.

If conservative treatment does not give the desired results, the problem of dilated milk ducts is solved surgically - especially when it comes to the presence of papillomas or polyps in the canal.

The operation carried out in this case can be of two main types:

removal of altered sections of the milk ducts and epithelial cells. The resulting material is necessarily sent for histological analysis to exclude oncological diseases;
complete removal of the ducts of the mammary glands: usually if malignant neoplasms occur.

In both cases, the operation is usually done under general anesthesia and leaves relatively minimal cosmetic defects. A contraindication to surgery may be a number of concomitant diseases (for example, heart disease) or the patient's desire to have a baby and subsequently breastfeed him. In each case, the possibility of surgical intervention or refusal of surgery should be discussed in detail with a specialist - especially if it is a question of suspicion of the presence of malignant neoplasms.

Result

The results of treatment directly depend on the timeliness of the diagnosis of the disease and on the causes of its occurrence. Most often, the problem can be eliminated, especially if the patient turned to a specialist in time and no serious complications (primarily malignant tumors) were detected during the examination.

Prevention

In order to avoid problems associated with the expansion of the channels of the gland, the following preventive measures should be followed, since trying to prevent a disease such as ectasia is much easier than treating ductectasia later.

Measures to prevent ectasia include:

control of the hormonal background, especially the level of prolactin: in the case of expansion of the ducts, this primarily concerns women over 40, however, younger women should also monitor the balance of hormones and use medications that can upset this balance with caution;
reduce the risk of breast injury, as well as the risk of surgery;
timely and complete treatment of inflammatory processes before their transition to the chronic stage; strengthening immunity with moderate physical activity and taking vitamins (after consultation with a specialist);
proper hygiene of the breast and nipples, as well as wearing comfortable underwear that does not injure or deform the breast;
proper nutrition, weight control, giving up bad habits (alcohol and smoking in the first place);
preventive examination at least 1 time per year with the passage of mammography or already also at least 1 time per year; it is necessary to be able to conduct an independent examination of the breast in order to be able to detect seals or neoplasms in time;
if symptoms of a possible expansion of the milk ducts are detected (or suspicions of the presence of a disease), it is necessary to make an appointment with a specialist and undergo a full examination.

You can sign up for the Energo clinic by phone or through a special form for registering patients, which is posted on the website of the medical center. Take care of your beauty and health!