What causes breast cysts?
We often attribute slight irregularities or areas of tenderness in breast tissue to a process called fibrocystic disease. Fibrocystic disease is a process that occurs in the breasts of women. It has nothing to do with cysts elsewhere in the body or fibroid tumors of the uterus. Often, fibrocystic disease can cause a cyst (a cyst is a fluid filled pocket) in the breast. The diagnosis of this is made either by ultrasound or by removing the fluid with a needle and syringe. If we can feel the cyst we usually remove the fluid with a needle to confirm the fact that the lump that we feel is indeed a cyst. We prefer not to leave a patient with a lump in the breast unless we are 100% certain of the diagnosis. We do not usually do anything more to evaluate this once we have confirmed that it is a cyst. If we can not actually feel the cyst, but only see it on mammogram or ultrasound, we may just observe it if the radiologist feels that it is a simple cyst. • Removal of a cyst is indicated if: • T
