الفهرس 
Gross anatomy of the breast
Lymphatic drainage of the breastOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Fibrocystic changes of the breast (FCCs) is the most
frequently encountered benign breast condition. FCC has a
broad grouping of subclassification ranging from small or
large cyst formation, hyperplasia of ductal epithelium,
apocrine metaplasia of the cells of the duct, papillomatosis
and duct ectasia, sclerosing adenosis and fibrosis of the
stroma.
The frequency of this condition increases with age.
Approximately 10% of women younger than 21 years have
been diagnosed with FCCs, in the child bearing period the
incidence is noted to be about 25%, this frequency increases
to be nearly 50% in women during the perimenopausal
period.
FCCs may be multifocal and bilateral. The most
common presenting symptoms are breast pain and tender
nodularities in breasts. Although the exact pathogenesis of
the entity is not clear, hormonal imbalance, particularly
estrogen predominance over progesterone, seems to play an
important role in its development.
To simplify the classification of the histological
changes seen in the fibrocystic changes, we can characterize
the conditions as: cystic changes, changes associated with
ductal hyperplasia, and fibrosis in the stroma.
Imaging spectrum of FCCs includes: Mammography,
Ultrasound, Elastography and MRI.In this literature we have described findings of FCCs
in Mammography and ultrasound.
Unfortunately 39% of FCCs are occult in
Mammography due to high breast density in younger
patients, other findings include microcalcifications,
asymmetrical densities, architectural distorsion and opacities.
FCCs can appear in ultrasound as cysts (simple,
complicated), masthopatic nodules, plaques and architectural
distorsion. On Doppler: 35% of lesions had intrinsic vascular
signal.