What Is a Breast Nodule?

A breast nodule is a symptom that is common in breast hyperplasia (which can form breast cysts) and breast neoplastic diseases, including benign breast tumors (such as breast fibroids, lobular tumors, etc.) and breast malignant tumors (breast cancer).

Basic Information

Visiting department

Breast surgery

Multiple groups

Benign tumors are more common in women of childbearing age, and malignant tumors are more common in middle-aged and older women

Common locations

breast

Common causes

Unclear, may include endocrine hormone levels, gene mutations, and environmental effects

Causes of breast nodules

The cause of breast nodules is not clear, and it is related to a variety of genetic and environmental factors. The causes that may be involved in breast nodule formation include endocrine hormone levels, gene mutations, and environmental effects.

Classification of breast nodules

1. breast nodules caused by hyperplasia of the breast

Multiple, unilateral or bilateral, more common in the outer upper quadrant. The size and texture often change cyclically with menstruation. The nodules in the premenstrual period increase, and the texture is relatively hard. After the menstruation, the nodules shrink and the texture becomes soft. Breast nodules can be touched during inspection, with irregular boundaries with surrounding tissues. They are often tender, have no adhesion to the skin and deep tissues, and can move; breast tenderness is more common in unilateral or bilateral breasts. pain. The duration of illness varies, and most patients have symptoms of periodic pain, which occur or worsen during the premenstrual period, and decrease or disappear after menstruation.

2. Breast nodules caused by breast tumors

Benign tumors can be single or multiple. They occur in women of childbearing age. The palpable nodules are sturdy, with well-defined boundaries and good mobility. Malignant tumors are solitary, which occur in middle-aged and elderly women. Hard, unclear borders, poor mobility.

Breast nodules

Palpation of the breast

2. X-ray examination of mammary molybdenum target

Round or irregular nodules can be seen on the breast molybdenum target. Benign nodules generally have clear boundaries, regular morphology, malignant nodules generally have unclear boundaries, irregular shapes, burrs or associated leaves, and sometimes outside the nodules. "Edema zone" shows better clustered calcification in the lesion.

3. Color Doppler Ultrasound

It can clearly show the smaller lesions in the breast tissue, and can better characterize and locate the mass. Deep nodules can often be detected by physicians; envelope echo can be detected, mostly low and medium echo; benign tumor echo is uniform, malignant tumor echo is generally uneven, and blood flow distribution can be displayed.

4. Histopathological examination

Hollow needle biopsy or resection biopsy can be performed for nodules for histological diagnosis to determine the nature of the nodules. For inaccessible lesions, it can be performed under the guidance of molybdenum palladium or B ultrasound.

Breast nodule diagnosis

Can be diagnosed based on clinical manifestations and test results.

Breast nodule treatment

The treatment of breast nodules should first be clearly diagnosed. Through breast ultrasound and molybdenum targets, some nodules are considered to be benign lesions and may be considered with regular follow-up observation. Some breast nodules need to be biopsied to determine the pathological properties. As a result, a further treatment plan is decided. If it is a malignant tumor, it is necessary to formulate an individualized comprehensive treatment plan based on the patient's condition and multidisciplinary cooperation, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy, and molecular targeted therapy.

Prevention of breast nodules

As the cause of breast nodules is unclear, there is no clear and effective prevention method at present, but relevant prevention and control measures can be carried out for the high-risk factors of breast cancer, including a reasonable diet and a healthy lifestyle. Encourage breastfeeding, quit smoking and alcohol, and avoid long-term large-scale oral contraceptives. For patients with hereditary breast cancer, consider the relevant breast cancer susceptibility gene testing to determine, and develop an individual breast cancer screening program, and if necessary, preventive mastectomy.