Breast macrocysts

Abstract

Clinical macrocysts occur in about 7% of adult women. Modern terminology and understanding of benign breast disorders considers microcysts and macrocysts as specific clinical and pathological entities. The terminology and concepts of fibrocystic disease and its many alternative terms have been discarded. Cysts arise as an aberration of normal lobular involution (ANDI) associated with active secretion of apocrine epithelium under hormonal stimulation. They are readily managed in most cases by aspiration alone. Multiple recurrent cysts may constitute a considerable nuisance and justify short-term therapy with danazol. There is increasing evidence that multiple recurrent cysts are associated with a small, but significant increase in breast cancer risk.