An unexplained growth in the breast tissue of a child can be alarming to a parent. Typically, mammary cysts are treated with antibiotics or surgically removed. Although usually harmless, these growths may be indicative of breast cancer. It is imperative to have a physician diagnosis such growths as soon as they appear to prevent a possible life-threatening condition.
Diagnosis
Growths in mammary tissues may be indicative of several disorders in children and adolescents, which may include cysts, abscesses and cancers. These masses must be properly diagnosed before a treatment regime can begin. Sonography, a diagnostic imaging technique using ultrasound technology, can aid in the accurate diagnosis of mammary masses, according to an article in the May 2001 issue of the "Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine." Researchers evaluated sonograms and medical records of 57 girls with breast masses and confirmed their findings through biopsies and statistical analyses. The study found that sonographic images varied significantly among lesion types and so was valuable in lesion types.
Obesity
Obesity is an epidemic that poses significant health risks to children. Excessive weight gain has been linked to the development of mammary cysts and other abnormal growths in children of both sexes. A study in the November 2009 issue of the "Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences" stated that abnormal masses in the breast tissue are often linked to the pathway that controls the release of hormones, including estrogen. The authors further stated that early and prolonged activation of this pathway can contribute to estrogen-dependent disease later in life, including breast cancer.
Treatment of Cysts
An article published in the February 2003 issue of the "Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology" reviewed cases of mammary cysts in 46 girls between the ages of 10 and 20 years. The physicians performed ultrasonic imaging on all patients and found that the cysts were thin-walled growths occurring individually or in pairs and presented as round, oval or elongated lesions with a diameter less than 20 mm. The cysts were treated using antibiotic and anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drugs. The study reported that all cysts were cleared within seven days with no further complications.
Galactocele in Males
A galactocele is a milk-filled cyst that typically appears in pregnant or breastfeeding women, but occasionally is found in children. A study in the July 2009 issue of the "Journal of Pediatric Surgery" noted that galactoceles are a rare cause of breast enlargement in male children. The authors reported a case of a 15-month-old male who had a cyst in the right breast, which had appeared six months prior to the medical examination. Although unusual, the authors suggested that the possibility of galactocele should be included in diagnoses of breast masses in male infants.
References
- "Journal of Pediatric Surgery"; Galactocele: An Unusual Cause of Breast Enlargement in Children; A. Perez-Boscollo, et al.; July 2009
- "Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology"; Retroareolar Cysts in the Adolescent; A. Humneeus, et al.; February 2003
- "Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences"; Adolescent Obesity and Puberty: The "Perfect Storm"; C. Jasik, et al; November 2008
- "Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine"; Gray Scale Sonography of Breast Masses in Adolescent Girls; K. Kronemer, et al.; May 2001
