Pregnancy and lactation-related breast pathology review

Abstract

The aim of this review is to discuss both the clinical and the radiological appearance, as well as the best therapeutic options, regarding the commonest breast-pathology related to pregnancy and lactation.

Important hormonal changes happen during pregnancy and lactation. These variations will cause physiological changes on different body organs, including the breast tissue, where not only physiologic changes but also pathology can occur. Breast-pathology related to pregnancy and breastfeeding is benign in most cases and needs no further study, galactocele, infectious mastitis, fibroadenoma, and lactation-related adenoma being some of the commonest diagnoses. It is mandatory for any radiologist to be familiar with these terms, since despite their benign nature some of them need to exclude malignancy during the diagnostic process.

Most of the cases are diagnosed in symptomatic patients, new-onset breast lump being the most frequent symptom. Breast ultrasound is the imaging modality of choice during these periods, while the other imaging techniques will be used on a second-time basis only when information provided by the ultrasound examination is insufficient.

Pregnancy-associated breast-cancer is the most frequent malignancy during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Despite not being as frequent as the previously mentioned benign pathology, its early diagnosis is essential in order to let the oncologic committee ensure the earliest and best medical attention for the patient.