Why do breast cysts occur?
For a condition that is so common, we understand little about the aetiology of breast cysts. Microscopic cysts are seen frequently in benign breast biopsies and it is likely that palpable cysts arise from these asymptomatic entities, often very suddenly as a result of an osmotic inflow of fluid. Cysts occur most frequently in women in their late 30s and 40s. Patients may wake up with discomfort and find that overnight they have developed a breast lump. Cysts occur predominantly in premenopausal women, particularly the nulliparous. But they can also be a problem in those relatively few post-menopausal women who are still taking hormone replacement therapy. 6. Is there any way of treating breast cysts other than percutaneous drainage and is there any way to prevent them recurring? It was common to carry out electrolyte analysis of cyst fluid and, after determining sodium/potassium ratios, to separate cysts into two types. Type 1 apocrine cysts have an Na+/K+ ratio less than 3, and type 2
