The milk glands are referred to as glandular tissue. These glands secrete milk during pregnancy and flow through the milk duct to the nipple. Most of the common benign breast masses develop from the fibrous connective tissue and the glandular tissue. Merck Manual of Medical Information. This condition is actually not a disease so it is described as fibrocystic changes.
Fibrocystic changes are a normal condition caused by growth of fibrous tissue and small cysts.
These changes can cause lumpiness or nodularity and sometimes pain. Hormonal changes that occur during the menstrual cycle causing increased nodularity and tenderness are also referred to as fibrocystic changes. Fibrocystic changes is a common condition occurring in women of all ages but most common in women aged thirty-five and up. Some women may experience more changes and pain over a lifetime. The most common benign breast lumps are cysts and fibroadenomas.