Next Page Chapter 8.
Most women experience some fibrocystic symptoms during their reproductive years.
The actual diagnosis of fibrocystic condition really depends on pathologic examination of tissue removed from the breast. Radiologists can sometimes recognize specific patterns on the mammogram that indicate underlying fibrocystic condition. The combination of these tissue processes of fibrocystic condition, as well as the problems and symptoms they produce, vary greatly from woman to woman. For instance, if a woman has adenosis without very much epitheliosis or fibrosis, then she will have a relatively distinctive pattern of breast tissue on her mammogram, probably experience swelling and tenderness of her breasts before menses, but will not have problems with large cysts. If a woman has the combination of adenosis and epitheliosis, she will be more likely to develop multiple and recurrent breast cysts , due to the overproduction of normal breast secretions by the abundant glands, as well as blockage of the ducts by the overgrowth of lining cells.