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A galactocele is a milk-filled cyst composed of cuboidal or flat epithelium which frequently occur in women who are lactating or pregnant. A women concerned about a strange 'smooth and moveable' lump or breast discomfort will typically bring the condition to the attention of her doctor, who will likely refer the patient for breast cancer screening, just to be sure. Galactoceles can mimick fibroadenomas as well as breast carcinomas, but they are always non-cancerous and do not increase risk of breast cancer in any way. Galactoceles can be caused by anything that blocks a breast duct during lactation. t is possible that breast carcinoma has caused a change and blockage of some kind, but far more likely that it is the result of routine, benign causes. Galactoceles are the most common benign breast lesions in lactating women. !hey do seem to occur more frequently, however, after breast-feeding has stopped" as milk is retained and becomes 'stagnant' within the breast ducts.
be uncomfortable. !reatment involves a physician draining $&aspirating'% the galactocele with a fine needle.
,n ultrasound, galactoceles may appear in a variety of ways, some of which are similar in appearance to solid masses, including some breast cancers. #ut generally speaking, galactoceles appear on a sonogram as small, round hypoechoic nodules. -sually they have well-defined margins with thin, echogenic walls, but on occasions they present with indistinct or microlobulated margins. Additionaly, there is often mild posterior shadowing $distal acoustic enhancement%.
Subcateogories/descriptions of Galactoceles
Galactoceles are sometimes broken into descriptive categories, depending upon the fat content and subsequent 'radiolucency' of the mass. !he variable amounts of fat versus water content, and also the relative 'freshness' of the milk secretions change the te.ture and consistency and appearence of the tumor.
Psuedolipoma galactocele
/suedolipoma is the name given to the galactocele tumor when the fat content is very high and appears as a completely radiolucent mass.
blend% of the milk with the lower density of the fat elements can allows it to rise above the water content, which is 'heavier'. t is interesting, but one can only see this situation if the mammogram is undertaken while the patient is in an upright posture.
!reatment of Galactoceles
Galactoceles are not serious or dangerous, but they may be uncomfortable. As with many cysts, the typical treatment for a galactocele is to leave them alone. 0hen the hormonal change associated with pregancy and lactation cease, the condition should resolve on its own. #ut, in cases of true discomfort, attempts may be made to 'drain' the galactocele through fine needle aspiration. n fact, the diagnostic aspiration of fluid from they cyst may prove to be theraputic at the same time.
1eferences
1. Sawhney S; Petkovska L; Ramadan S; Al-Muhtaseb S; Jain R; Sheikh M; Sonogra hi! a earan!es o" gala!to!eles. J #lin $ltrasound %&&% Jan;'&(1)*1+-%%. %. ,im MJ- ,im .,- Park S/- Jung 0,- 1h ,,- Seok J/. 2ala!to!eles mimi!king sus i!ious solid masses on sonogra hy. J $ltrasound Med %&&3; %4* 1546141 '. Stevens ,- 7urrell 0#- .vans AJ- et al. 8he ultrasound a earan!es o" gala!to!eles. 7r J Radiol 199:; :&* %'96%51.
5. 2;me< A- Mata JM- =onoso L- Rams A. 2ala!to!ele* three distin!tive radiogra hi! a earan!es. Radiology 19+3 4. Rosen PP. >n"lammatory and rea!tive tumors. >n* Rosen PP- ed. Rosen?s breast athology. %nd ed. Philadel hia- Pa* Li in!ott-Raven- %&&1; %963' 3. Sabate JM- #lotet M- 8orrubia S- 2ome< A- 2uerrero R- de las 0eras P- Lerma ... Radiologi! .valuation o" 7reast =isorders Related to Pregnan!y and La!tation. Radio2ra hi!s (1!tober %&&:) vol. %: no. su l 1 S1&1-S1%5