Which is more serious: breast hyperplasia or breast thickening?
Apr 12, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lv Aiming
Introduction
Breast hyperplasia and thickening are conditions in which breast hyperplasia is generally more severe. Breast thickening is mostly caused by hormonal imbalance, specifically an abnormal secretion of estrogen and progesterone, and is a common condition among women, particularly prevalent in young and middle-aged female patients. During breast ultrasound examination, thickening may be observed in the breast tissue on one side, or possibly in both sides of the breast or in a specific area of the breast.
Generally, mammary gland hyperplasia is more severe than breast thickening.
Breast thickening is mostly caused by hormonal imbalance, particularly abnormal secretion of androgen and progesterone, and is a common condition among women, especially prevalent in middle-aged and young female patients. During breast ultrasound examinations, thickening may be observed in one side of the breast tissue, or possibly in both sides or a specific area of the breast. This condition often fluctuates with the menstrual cycle—becoming significantly thicker before menstruation and reducing or disappearing afterward. Usually, no special treatment is required; symptoms can be relieved through localized massage under medical guidance. In contrast, mammary gland hyperplasia refers to pathological changes resulting from untreated proliferation of breast tissue. This condition commonly occurs in middle-aged women and typical symptoms include breast nodules and breast distension or pain. There are several pathological types of hyperplasia, such as simple lobular hyperplasia. If lobular hyperplasia is accompanied by ductal epithelial hyperplasia and shows severe atypical changes, it may indicate a precancerous lesion. In such cases, patients should promptly seek treatment at a正规 hospital and, under medical supervision, may require mastectomy. Therefore, mammary gland hyperplasia is generally more serious than breast thickening.
Patients are advised to undergo follow-up examinations every 3 to 6 months to avoid delays in treatment.
