Breast Cyst Drainage

What Are Breast Cysts?

Breast cysts are benign fluid-filled sacs that can develop within the breast tissue. They are one of the most common reasons women visit a breast specialist. Cysts may:
✔ Appear as a palpable, firm, and mobile lump
✔ Be discovered incidentally on mammograms or ultrasounds

They can be:
✔ Single or multiple
✔ Present in one or both breasts
✔ Small (a few millimeters) or large (several centimeters)

Their size may fluctuate with the menstrual cycle, often enlarging and becoming more tender before a period. Some cysts remain undetectable by touch but are visible via imaging.

How Do Breast Cysts Form?

The breast is composed of lobules (glandular structures that produce milk) and ducts (which carry milk to the nipple). Cysts develop when lobules or ducts become blocked and fill with fluid.

Who Is at Risk?

• Most common in women aged 35-50
• Associated with hormonal fluctuations
• Often disappear after menopause unless a woman is on hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

Treatment & Monitoring

✔ Small cysts → Often require no treatment and may resolve on their own.
✔ Larger cysts causing discomfort → Can be aspirated (drained) using a fine needle under ultrasound guidance.
✔ Persistent or rapidly growing cysts → May need surgical removal.

Cyst Drainage Procedure (Aspiration)

If a cyst enlarges or becomes painful, it may be aspirated using a fine needle:

🔹 Performed under ultrasound guidance to ensure accuracy
🔹 Quick and minimally invasive
🔹 Fluid removal often relieves pain immediately
🔹 The aspirated fluid is usually benign but may be sent for cytological examination if necessary

💡 Follow-up ultrasounds are recommended every 3 to 6 months to monitor recurrent or complex cysts.

When to Seek Medical Advice?

Even though cysts are benign, regular breast exams and imaging are essential. Cysts do not increase the risk of breast cancer, but they may coexist with or obscure cancerous lesions.

Contact a breast specialist if you notice:
✔ A new lump that does not resolve
✔ A cyst that grows rapidly
✔ Persistent pain despite drainage
✔ Bloody or unusual fluid during aspiration
✔ Skin or nipple changes (redness, dimpling, or retraction)

Early detection is key! Even though cysts are usually harmless, regular breast check-ups help ensure optimal breast health.