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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
Tortuous ducts
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
Tortuous ducts
by worrywart1031, Aug 23, 2005 12:00AM
Had a us 11/04 showed cyst 8x7x5mm with many dilated ducts. Come back in 6 months. Waited 10 months :( Now US states cystic structure measuring 1.6x0.8x1.6CM with tortuous duct at 8 o'clock. Area now has multiple cysts. The total cystic area measuring above. One cyst is still 8x7x5mm. No solid masses seen. My question is does this sound benign? Is it normal to have many cysts clustered together like that? What causes dilated/tortuos ducts? Pain is what sent me for the US in Nov 04. The area where the ducts and cysts are hurts constantly. Not unbearable but bothersome. I am 35 years old with no bc history. Had a baby right before pain started. Did not breast feed. Can this be related some how? I am seeing a surgeon soon to see if they think it should be biopsied. Can you give me any comforting thoughts about my scenario? Does BC present itself like this? Without any solid mass? I also had a Mammogram but that was Normal.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-rf, Aug 23, 2005 12:00AM
Dear worrywart1031: Cysts are, by definition, benign. Some types of complex cysts may have solid components and these can rarely be associated with malignancy. Unilateral dilated ducts on mammography are most often due to benign processes but may be indications for biopsy if the finding is new or progressive, in a nonsubareolar location, or associated with indeterminate calcifications. Without reviewing your ultrasound and conducting a history and physical, it is impossible to make a specific recommendation. Your surgeon will likely be better able to review all the data and make recommendations as they pertain to you.
