Treatment of Breast Masses

Treatment

Treatment depends on the diagnosis of the breast mass. Most benign breast masses do not require treatment. Breast cysts can be diagnosed and treated at the same time with fine-needle aspiration biopsy, and in about 80% of cases, treatment is possible with a single aspiration without recurrence. Simple cysts may recur in less than 20% of cases, and in less than about 9% of cases, they may recur even after repeated aspiration. Fibroadenomas are also benign conditions, so they do not require special treatment, and regular follow-up is sufficient. If a breast mass is diagnosed as breast cancer, surgical treatment, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy are provided depending on the stage of the disease.

Frequently asked questions from patients

1. If a breast mass is found on mammography, is a breast ultrasound examination necessary? Yes. Breast ultrasound is more useful than mammography for distinguishing the internal components of a breast mass. Therefore, breast ultrasound should be performed to determine whether a breast mass found on mammography is a simple cyst or a solid mass (a mass with solid components).

2. If a lump is felt in the armpit, does the breast also need to be examined? Yes. Many lymph nodes are gathered in the armpit, and because lymph fluid from the breast flows to the lymph nodes in the armpit, breast disease can cause the axillary lymph nodes to enlarge or swell. Therefore, if a lump is felt in the armpit, the breast must also be examined.

3. I had several cysts in my breast, and they keep increasing. Do I need surgery? No. Simple cysts in the breast can be present as one or multiple cysts in both breasts, and the number can increase due to hormonal effects. They can be treated by draining the fluid inside the cyst with fine-needle aspiration biopsy (removing the internal contents with a syringe), but since they are not related to breast cancer, regular follow-up is sufficient.

So far, I have explained the treatment of breast masses. In the next installment, we will learn about hyperthyroidism.

Source: National Health Information Portal, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency