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Purpose: This study aimed to describe the clinical response to five-step systematic therapy (FSST) in the management of plugged ducts and mastitis. FSST was a comprehensive milk stasis dredging treatment, which contained five steps to make the milk out of the plugged duct. Methods: This retrospective study included 922 breastfeeding women, 714 with plugged ducts, and 208 with mastitis who received FSST from June to September 2017. The breast pain score, swelling degree, and range of breast induration were recorded pre-FSST and post-FSST. Results: After a single FSST, pain score and swelling degree were significantly improved (both p

Background Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a clinical diagnosis. Here, we examined the association of a “classic” triad of clinical signs, swollen involved breast, nipple change, and diffuse skin change, with overall survival (OS). Method Breast medical photographs from patients enrolled on a prospective IBC registry were scored by two independent reviewers as classic (triad above), not classic, and difficult to assign. Chi‐squared test, Fisher's exact test, and Wilcoxon rank‐sum test were used to assess differences between patient groups. Kaplan–Meier estimates and the log‐rank test and Cox proportional hazard regression were used to assess the OS. Results We analyzed 245 IBC patients with median age 54 (range 26–81), M0 versus M1 status (157 and 88 patients, respectively). The classic triad was significantly associated with smoking, post‐menopausal status, and metastatic disease at presentation (p = 0.002, 0.013, and 0.035, respectively). Ten‐year actuarial OS for not classic and difficult to assign were not significantly different and were grouped for further analyses. Ten‐year OS was 29.7% among patients with the classic sign triad versus 57.2% for non‐classic (p, Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a clinical diagnosis. Here, we examined the association of a “classic” triad of clinical signs, swollen involved breast, nipple change, and diffuse skin change, with overall survival (OS). Our study concluded for the first time that a triad of classic IBC signs independently predicted OS in patients diagnosed with IBC.

Lymphedema of the breast, secondary to treatment for breast cancer, is difficult to assess due to the shape of the breast and the nature of the tissue. Ultrasound measurement of dermal thickness has been previously used to assess breast swelling; however, the reliability of the measurements, or what should be considered an abnormal thickness, is currently known.Thirty-eight women with breast edema were recruited and underwent assessment using ultrasound. During the assessment, the four quadrants (superior, inferior, medial, and lateral) of the affected and unaffected breasts were imaged three times each. Dermal thickness was then measured by two assessors, on two occasions for each captured image. The interimage, intrarater, and inter-rater reliability was all found to be excellent (Cronbach's alpha = 0.995; ICCDermal thickness measurements can be reliably completed on breasts with edema secondary to breast cancer. Future study is needed to determine the utility of the dermal thickness thresholds established as well as to investigate changes in dermal thickness as a response to treatment of breast edema.

Background: Severe breast engorgement can cause substantial discomfort for mothers and interfere with an infant's ability to feed at the breast. The aim of the study was to clarify the possibility that the percutaneous progesterone-containing gel (Progestogel) can eliminate severe postpartum breast engorgement in lactating women. Subjects and Methods: Twenty three patients were examined. The Progestogel for transdermal therapy in an amount of 2.5–3 g was applied to the breast. Before application and 20 min after application the density of the mammary glands was measured by a tonometer. Results: According to our observations, within 20 min application of 2.5–3 g of the Progestogel on the breast skin does not result in reducing breast swelling, engorgement and tenderness. Conclusions: After 20 minutes, transdermal application of Progestogel does not reduce the degree of engorgement of the mammary glands in the postpartum period.

Leiomyomas are benign smooth muscle neoplasm. They can occur in any organ, but the most common forms occur in the uterus, small bowel and the esophagus. Leiomyomas of breast are rare benign non epithelial tumor. Only 21 cases of solitary parenchymal leiomyoma of the breast have been reported. This is the first case of multiple breast leiomyomas being reported in the literature. Here we report a case of a 38-year-old woman who presented to us with a painless right sided breast swelling. Histopathology revealed a growth pattern of interlacing fascicles of smooth-muscle cells consistent with leiomyoma of breast. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of multiple intraparenchymal leiomyomas of the breast reported in the literature.

Postmenopausal women who choose hormone replacement therapy (HRT) often discontinue this therapy within 1 year. Few studies have considered why older women (agedor =65 years) discontinue therapy. To investigate this question and its relationship to HRT-related side effects, we analyzed data collected during the 3-month open-label (active HRT and alendronate placebo) run-in phase of a clinical trial for osteoporosis prevention and treatment in older women. Among women discontinuing the trial, we ascertained a primary reason based on the patients' records and classified it as related or unrelated to HRT. The incidence of specific HRT-related side effects reported during the run-in phase was abstracted from the trial database and compared between patients continuing in the trial and those discontinuing for HRT-related reasons. Of the 485 women who began the 3-month run-in phase, 112 (23%) discontinued the trial. Specifically, 73 (15%) women discontinued for reasons considered HRT related. Breast swelling/tenderness (26 women) and bloating (9 women) were more often primary reasons for discontinuation than were bleeding or spotting (7 women). Comparing all reported side effects, bloating was more common in women discontinuing because of HRT than in women continuing in the trial (18% versus 3%, por = 0.001), whereas other complaints were similar or lower: breast swelling/tenderness (59% versus 67%, p0.05), bleeding (16% versus 17%, p0.05), spotting (23% versus 41%, por = 0.05). Bloating, of which women discontinuing complained significantly more often, and breast swelling/tenderness, the most frequently cited primary reason for discontinuation, may be more important factors than bleeding or spotting in an older woman's decision to discontinue HRT.

A 27-year-old man presented with bilateral painful breast enlargement and recent onset right testicular swelling. After appropriate evaluation, a radical orchiectomy was performed, and a Leydig cell tumor was found. The various urologic etiologies for gynecomastia are presented, as are the potential interventions. A rational approach to the patient with new onset breast swelling is presented.

A 32-year-old previously healthy female smoker was admitted to hospital after presenting with a sudden onset of painful bilateral breast swelling and chest pain that occurred when she was resting. Her pain was nonpleuritic, with no associated shortness of breath, diaphoresis, nausea or radiation. On

In a recent communication to this Journal, Bauer and Goodwin (1) reported 3 cases of gynecomastia appearing in patients treated with radioactive iodine for Graves’ disease. This symptom was considered as a complication of such therapy. We wish to call attention to tender breast enlargement as one manifestation of the symptomatology of Graves’ disease itself and to present 4 such cases in males observed in the past one and a half years among a total of 45 cases of hyperthyroidism examined during this period. In 2 of the cases, the appearance of breast symptoms antedated therapy of any kind. In 1 case, gynecomastia was first noted shortly after institution of therapy with Tapazole (1 methyl 2 mercaptoimidazole) but before significant clinical response was evident. In the fourth case, tender breast swelling was first noted later in the course of therapy, at a time when the patient had improved considerably. In all cases, remission of breast symptoms coincided with the return of function to the euthyroid state.

In a double-blind study vs bromocriptine, 30 women who wished to interrupt breast-feeding after a physiological delivery and at least 3 months of nursing were given at random 10 mg dihydroergocristine capsules or 2.5 mg bromocriptine capsules twice a day for 5 days, then 3 times a day for 5 days if treatment had failed to produce an effect. The parameters considered were PRL plasma levels, which were measured at baseline, on the 5th day and, where necessary, on the 10th day of treatment. Milk secretion, breast swelling and pain were recorded at baseline and daily during treatment. The appearance of any side-effect was accurately reported. A prolactin decrease was observed in both groups (p less than 0.01). After 5 days milk secretion was reduced more significantly in the dihydroergocristine group; after 10 days of treatment 6 cases treated with bromocriptine and 1 case treated with dihydroergocristine still revealed a low milk secretion. Breast congestion and pain were absent in both groups. As regards side-effects, a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure (standing position) was reported in the bromocriptine group. Other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, insomnia and headache, were reported in 8 patients in the bromocriptine group vs 6 patients in the dihydroergocristine group.

We examined the prevalence of selected premenstrual symptoms among 520 Connecticut women in relation to demographic, reproductive, contraceptive, and medical characteristics. The prevalence ranged from 39 per cent for breast swelling to 81 per cent for premenstrual weight gain. Socioeconomic status, race, history of benign breast disease, bra cup size, and history of abortions were some of the factors associated with premenstrual symptoms.