Breast lobular hyperplasia


The difference between lobular hyperplasia of the breast and breast hyperplasia.
Breast lobular hyperplasia and breast hyperplasia are the same; they are both referred to as cystic hyperplasia of the breast, a common breast disease seen in women aged 25-50. Clinically, 50% of women exhibit changes associated with cystic breast hyperplasia. Its main characteristics are the proliferation of breast tissue components, manifesting as abnormalities in structure, quantity, and histology. In addition to the benign proliferation of breast fibrous tissue and epithelium accompanied by cyst formation, it may also coexist with the formation of fibroadenomas. However, the absolute risk of developing into breast cancer is extremely low, hence it is also termed cystic breast hyperplasia or breast dysplasia.


Symptoms of breast hyperplasia
Breast hyperplasia usually manifests as cyclical symptoms such as swelling, pain, and tenderness that often occur or worsen before menstruation and may decrease or disappear after menstruation. Minor cases might not be a concern for patients, but severe cases can affect daily life and work. Symptoms might include pain in one or both breasts, which can extend to the shoulders, upper limbs, or shoulder blades. Additionally, a small number of people might experience nipple discharge, which could be milky, clear, yellow-green, or brown in color.


What medicine should be taken for mammary gland hyperplasia?
Simple lobular hyperplasia of the breast does not require medication or other treatments, just pay attention to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and regularly check the lobular hyperplasia in both breasts at the hospital to monitor any changes in the condition. After menopause, as the body's estrogen levels decrease, the lobular hyperplasia will gradually improve. Just pay attention to a regular lifestyle, and there is no special dietary requirements compared to others. If the pain is unbearable and severely affects daily life, under the guidance of a doctor, you can take some traditional Chinese medicines that soothe the liver and regulate qi, invigorate blood and resolve stasis, or use estrogen receptor antagonists, which prevent the estrogen receptors from exerting their physiological effects, thereby relieving symptoms.


Will a bad mood make lobular hyperplasia worse?
Breast lobular hyperplasia can worsen with mood because it is related to elevated estrogen levels caused by endocrine disorders. External living conditions, work and life circumstances, interpersonal relationships, and various other stresses can cause neuropsychiatric factors, all of which can change the internal environment of the body. This, in turn, affects the function of the endocrine system, leading to abnormal secretion of one or several hormones. During the menstrual cycle, breast receptors and internal hormone levels change periodically. When the proportion of hormones in the body becomes unbalanced, an increase in estrogen levels and a decrease in progesterone secretion can lead to incomplete regression of breast hyperplasia after its increase, causing the exacerbation of breast hyperplasia.


Is lobular hyperplasia grade II severe?
Second-degree mammary lobular hyperplasia refers to simple mammary hyperplasia, which is not severe and has relatively mild symptoms or conditions. Most cases do not require treatment, but regular follow-up is necessary. For cases with more pronounced symptoms, we can use traditional Chinese medicine, which alleviates pain through methods such as soothing the liver and regulating qi, as well as harmonizing the thoroughfare and conception vessels. Vitamins can also be used to support treatment, with Vitamin B, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E improving liver function, regulating metabolic hormones, and enhancing autonomic nerve functions, serving as auxiliary medication for this condition. Vitamin E also helps relieve pain. Regular follow-up examinations with ultrasound and mammography are recommended. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)


Is hot compress effective for lobular hyperplasia?
Hot compresses for lobular hyperplasia have certain therapeutic effects, but the results may not be very significant. For patients with severe breast hyperplasia, breast supports can be used to lift the breasts, and Chinese medicine can be used for treatment. This involves soothing the liver and regulating qi, as well as balancing the thoroughfare and controlling vessels to alleviate pain and treat breast hyperplasia. Endocrine treatment is also an option, but it should be used as little as possible. For pre-menopausal women with very obvious pain, it can be taken before the onset of menstruation. Vitamin therapy can also be used, including vitamins B, C, E, etc. These have functions such as improving liver function, regulating sex hormone metabolism, and improving autonomic nervous functions, and can be used as adjunctive therapy for this condition. Vitamin E also has an effect in relieving pain.


Does lobular hyperplasia usually cause pain?
The primary manifestation of mammary gland hyperplasia is cyclical swelling and pain in the breast, often occurring or worsening before menstruation and alleviating or disappearing after menstruation. Mild cases are noteworthy for the patient, while severe cases can affect daily life and work. However, some patients do not exhibit obvious cyclical changes; others may experience unilateral or bilateral breast swelling and pain or needle-like pain. The pain may extend to the shoulder, upper limbs, or shoulder-back area. A few patients may have nipple discharge. During physical examinations, nodular lumps of varying sizes, which are tough but not hard, can be felt in one or both breasts. Sometimes, these lumps are tender to touch, and their boundaries with surrounding tissues are unclear, but they do not adhere to the skin or chest muscles.


Can ultrasonography detect lobular hyperplasia?
Lobular hyperplasia can be detected by ultrasound, appearing as heterogeneous hypoechoic areas on the ultrasound, and if cysts form, they appear as anechoic areas. The exact cause of lobular hyperplasia in the mammary glands is not very clear. It is currently believed to be related to elevated levels of estrogen caused by endocrine disorders, external environmental factors, work and living conditions, interpersonal relationships, and various other stressors that affect the psychological aspects, all of which can change the body’s internal environment. This in turn affects the function of the endocrine system, causing abnormal secretion of one or several hormones, ultimately disrupting the balance of hormone levels in the body, leading to increased estrogen, and causing mammary tissue hyperplasia.


What is bilateral mammary lobular hyperplasia?
Bilateral mammary lobular hyperplasia is a type of abnormal proliferative disease of the breast tissue. Patients with mammary hyperplasia primarily experience breast pain and have breast lumps, and it is a benign disease. This condition is caused by an imbalance in ovarian endocrine levels, changes in hormone levels in the body, and an increase in estrogen levels, leading to excessive proliferation and incomplete restoration of breast tissue. It is common in clinical practice to examine breast diseases when breast pain and lumps are present.


Can medication completely cure mammary gland hyperplasia?
Breast hyperplasia can be treated with medication, but due to the disorder of hormone levels in the body, incomplete recovery may lead to the possibility of recurrence of breast hyperplasia. Most cases of breast hyperplasia are believed to be related to endocrine disorders, causing elevated estrogen levels, and hormonal levels in the body change periodically. When the proportion of hormones in the body is unbalanced, estrogen increases, and progesterone secretion decreases, breast hyperplasia is incompletely restored, causing breast tissue proliferation. On the other hand, it may also be related to the differences in the quality and quantity of estrogen receptors in the breast parenchyma components, resulting in uneven growth in different parts of the breast.