Mammology is an independent branch of medicine that studies the structure of a woman’s mammary glands, the physiological processes occurring in them, as well as the prevention and treatment of emerging breast diseases. Mammology is interconnected with other medical disciplines that study a woman’s body: gynecology, endocrinology, as well as surgery and oncology. Breast diseases can occur in women at different age periods. The age over 40 years is considered the most dangerous in relation to oncological pathology of the mammary glands. Women during this period need to regularly self-monitor the breast, undergo its X-ray examination and ultrasound.
The mammary glands of a woman are paired glands of external secretion. Their main function in the female body is lactation, i.e. milk production, which ensures the feeding of an infant. Therefore, the mammary glands are called mammary glands in another way.
Like no other organ, the mammary glands are influenced by all the processes occurring in the female body: the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, lactation, menopause – the breast reacts to all this with its anatomical and physiological changes.
Despite the fact that most of a woman’s life, the mammary glands are “at rest”, but as a hormone-dependent organ, they undergo complex changes due to the physiology of the female body. And the occurrence of most breast diseases is associated with hormonal disorders.
So, with endocrine disorders in the mammary gland, benign formations may occur – mastopathy, cyst and fibroma of the mammary gland. Their development is often associated with abortions, as well as inflammatory diseases of the female reproductive organs that violate the hormonal function of the ovaries and other endocrine glands.
Breast diseases leading to its inflammation – mastitis, develop, as a rule, during breastfeeding: these are lactostasis and nipple cracks.
Of particular concern to mammologists-oncologists is the increase in the number of malignant tumors (breast cancer). Injuries and inflammatory diseases of the breast, abortions, sexual infections, late (after 35 years) first pregnancy and childbirth, endocrine disorders, bad habits, ecology and heredity predispose to their development.
An important role in the prevention of breast diseases is played by timely treatment of genital pathology, compliance with personal hygiene and breastfeeding rules, self-monitoring, regular visits to specialists: gynecologist and mammologist.
Every woman should carefully examine her mammary glands on the 6th-12th day of the menstrual cycle on a monthly basis. If the first alarming symptoms are detected, it is urgently necessary to consult a mammologist.
A particular mammological disease may be indicated by the appearance of at least one of the complaints in a woman: compaction, soreness in the breast, the appearance of discharge from the nipples, skin changes on the chest and in the nipple area, a change in the shape of the gland, an increase in lymph nodes in the axillary zones.
After 35 years, women need to undergo breast ultrasound once a year, and after 40 – mammography once every 2 years. You should visit a mammologist if you are planning pregnancy or taking oral contraceptives.
Today, most of the breast diseases detected in a timely manner are successfully treated conservatively. Surgical treatment of mammological pathology is aimed at the most careful preservation of the organ and its function.
The Medical Directory of Diseases details the main diseases of the mammary glands, describes the methods of their diagnosis and treatment. This can help you to independently assess the condition of your breasts and recognize the symptoms of an incipient disease in time.
Beautiful and healthy breasts are the pride of the woman herself, the envy of her friends and the object of men’s attention. On the website “Medic Journal” you will always find useful information on how to keep your breasts healthy and attractive for many years.
Lactational mastitis is an infectious and inflammatory lesion of the breast that occurred in the postpartum period and is associated with the lactation process. It is manifested by pain and chest compaction, hyperemia of the skin, intoxication reaction with severe hyperthermia, chills, asthenia. Breast ultrasound, blood test, milk bacanalysis, and tissue biopsy are used for…
Breast cyst is a volumetric formation of a non–tumor nature, represented by an expanded duct filled with liquid contents, one of the forms of mastopathy. The disease is manifested by the presence of a dense elastic node in the depth of the organ, detected by palpation, cyclic swelling of the breast, accompanied by pain, sometimes…
Calcification in breast are areas of calcification of the soft tissues of the breast that have arisen on the background or as a result of other diseases. Clinically, they do not manifest themselves in anything, they are probed in exceptional cases: for large sizes (more than 1 cm) and subcutaneous location. Mammography is used for…
Breast fat necrosis is a focal aseptic necrosis of the fatty tissue of the breast with its subsequent replacement by scar tissue. Fat necrosis is characterized by the appearance of a dense painful formation deforming the mammary gland; skin retraction and a change in its color, which first of all makes you think about tumor…
Hypogalactia is a complication of the postpartum period, in which the level of milk excretion does not meet the child’s needs for nutrients necessary for normal development. A decrease in lactation is manifested by the restless behavior of the baby, a slowdown in body weight gain. To make a diagnosis, a control weighing of the…
Galactocele is a cyst of the mammary gland, the contents of which is a milky liquid. Cysts of small size are asymptomatic, and only with their increase there is discomfort in the chest and its deformation, signs of intoxication are added to infection. When diagnosing galactocele, the data of anamnesis, complaints and objective examination of…
Galactorrhea is a pathological secretion of milk from the mammary glands, which is not associated with the process of feeding a child. It occurs in men and women of different ages and is more often associated with hyperprolactinemia. The causes of galactorrhea may be systemic diseases, pathology of the hypothalamic-pituitary system or side effects of…
Nipple inflammation is an infectious process of bacterial, fungal or viral nature that occurs in the area of the nipple-areolar complex. The main signs are pain and tightness in the nipple, hyperemia of the skin of the periarticular area, the appearance of liquid secretions (purulent, succulent or bloody) from the mammary glands. The diagnosis is…
Actinomycosis of the breast is a chronic specific lesion of the mammary glands, a form of visceral mycosis that proceeds with the formation of granulomas and abscesses. The clinic of actinomycosis of the breast is characterized by the formation of individual small nodules, then ulcers, which are opened with the formation of long-term non-healing fistulas.…
Breast adenoma is a benign breast tumor originating from the cells of the glandular epithelium. It usually occurs at a young age, after 40-45 years it is practically not diagnosed. The alleged cause of development is hormonal imbalance. Breast adenoma is an elastic, mobile spherical or spherical formation, usually located near the surface of the…
