Comparison of Presentation Types and Clinical Findings of Rural and Urban Patients with Mastalgia: A Retrospective Analysis of 730 Patients from Turkey.

BACKGROUND Breast pain, prevalent among women of reproductive age, varies during menstrual cycles and is influenced by sociodemographic and clinical factors. This study aimed to assess these demographic and clinical variables in women with breast pain, considering the spatial distinctions between urban and rural locations. MATERIAL AND METHODS This retrospective study included 730 women presenting with mastalgia between 2010 and 2023. The study evaluated patient demographics, pain characteristics (eg, breast pain duration, site, quadrant-based localization, and radiation of breast pain), radiologic findings, and the presence of comorbid medical conditions. RESULTS There were 498 patients in the urban group and 232 patients in the rural group. Among the radiologic findings, the rate of mastitis was higher in the rural group (P<0.05). Regarding the localization of breast pain within the quadrants, left breast upper-inner (LUI) quadrant pain was more common in the rural group (P=0.014). Regarding comorbid medical conditions, the prevalence of gastrointestinal system disease was higher in the rural group (P=0.009). Using logistic regression analysis, gastrointestinal disease was determined to be a significant independent risk factor for increased LUI quadrant pain in the rural group (odds ratio [OR]: 3.132, P=0.014), while pre-existing thyroid disease (OR: 2.482, P=0.004), hypertension (OR: 2.534, P=0.006), and radiologic evidence of ductal ectasia (OR: 2.878, P=0.03) were independent risk factors in the urban group. CONCLUSIONS Patient outcomes may be improved by a tailored, population-based approach to mastalgia patients in rural and urban locations focused on their radiologic findings and comorbid medical conditions.

Benign Breast Disease among Patients Visiting the Breast and Endocrine Clinic of a Tertiary Care Centre.

Introduction: Breast diseases encompass a wide range of conditions, including benign and malignant disorders. Given the significant burden of breast-related health issues in the community, there is a critical need to understand the prevalence. This study aimed to find the prevalence of benign breast diseases among patients visiting the breast and endocrine clinic of a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among patients presenting to the breast and endocrine clinic from 1 January 2022 to 1 January 2023 after obtaining ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee. A convenience sampling method was used. The point estimate was calculated at a 95% Confidence Interval. Results: Among 979 patients, the prevalence of benign disease was 937 (95.71%) (94.44-96.98, 95% Confidence Interval). Mastalgia was the most frequent diagnosis 416 (44.40%), followed by fibroadenoma 137 (14.62%), benign lumps 84 (8.96%), and mastitis 64 (6.83%) and the most common symptoms reported by benign cases were pain in the breast 692 (73.85%) and breast lump 483 (51.55%). Conclusions: The prevalence of benign breast diseases was found to be similar to other studies done in similar settings. Keywords: benign; breast diseases; mastalgia; prevalence.

Assessment of prevalence and factors affecting Mastalgia among early reproductive-aged women in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Mastalgia, or breast pain, is a prevalent and distressing condition experienced by women, impacting their daily lives and causing complications. It is common among women of reproductive age, with associations found with premenstrual syndrome, fibrocystic breast disease, psychological distress, and, in rare cases, breast cancer. While Western societies have high frequencies of Mastalgia, it is less diagnosed in Asian cultures including Bangladesh. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with Mastalgia among early reproductive-aged women in Bangladesh. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted, and data were collected from different regions of the country. A convenience sampling method was used to take 1,214 participants for the study. A pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to ascertain factors that were significantly associated with Mastalgia. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software 26 version. RESULTS: All the participants were female (mean age: 22.87 ± 2.64 years; age ranges: 18-35 years). The prevalence of Mastalgia was found to be 35.5%. The study was conducted using a self-reported semi-structured questionnaire. Participants with a higher education level and higher income were more likely to experience Mastalgia. A family history of breast cancer and severe abdominal pain during menstruation were also identified as associated factors for Mastalgia (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study enhances our understanding of Mastalgia in Bangladesh, offering insights for healthcare and policy. Further research is required to uncover its root causes and develop effective interventions. The study highlights the prevalence of mastalgia and its related factors, emphasizing the necessity for increased awareness and support for affected women.

Noncyclical and cyclical mastalgia in Turkish women: Prevalence, risk factors, health-care seeking and quality of life.

Our aim in this study was to determine the prevalence of cyclical and noncyclical mastalgia, its underlying risk factors, and to examine its effect on women's quality of life. This study was conducted on 415 women, among whom the prevalence of mastalgia was found as 20.7%. It was found that experiencing intense stress, daily coffee and chocolate consumption, breast surgery history and the menstruation pattern were risk factors associated with mastalgia. Some domains of quality of life were found to be negatively affected in women who had mastalgia. Awareness among women about the risk factors of mastodynia and lifestyle changes is needed to improve mastalgia management.

Effects of sagging breasts and other risk factors associated with mastalgia: a case-control study.

The aim of this study is to compare patients with and without mastalgia and to analyze the factors affecting mastalgia and its severity. The patient's age, height, weight, educational status, marital status, and occupation were recorded in all subjects. In addition, the women were asked about the presence of any risk factors for mastalgia, such as tea and coffee consumption, smoking, alcohol consumption, and weight gain. The sternal notch to nipple distance (SNND) was measured to determine whether there was breast sagging. Mastalgia was significantly more common in women with BMIs of > 30 kg/m2 (OR: 2.94, CI 1.65-5.24), those who were primary school graduates or illiterate (OR: 2.96, CI 1.6-5.46), and those with SNND values of 22-25 cm (OR: 2.94, CI 1.79-4.82). In these women, drinking more than 6 cups of tea a day (OR: 2.15, CI 1.32-3.5), smoking at least 10 cigarettes a day (OR: 2.94, CI 1.78-4.83), and drinking alcohol at least once a week (OR: 2.1, CI 1.12-3.91) were found to be important factors that increased the risk of mastalgia. As a result, it has been found that severe mastalgia complaints cause by obesity, sagging breasts, never giving birth, unemployment anxiety, regular smoking, alcohol use, and excessive tea consumption.

Autoimmune syndrome induced by adjuvants after breast enhancement with polyacrylamide hydrogel: a study in Poland.

Autoimmune syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA) is the spectrum of diseases in which the substances considered inert to the body induce autoimmune reactions and inflammation. Some of the biomaterials recently used in plastic surgery, such as silicone or polyacrylamide hydrogel (PAAG) seem to trigger clinical features of ASIA. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of these features within a group of women after breast augmentation with PAAG. As many as 30 consecutive patients (26-59 years, mean age 39.5) referred to the Clinic of Plastic Surgery after breast enhancement with PAAG were examined. The validated criteria of ASIA syndrome were employed. Descriptive statistics were chosen based on the distribution of variables. The research was approved by the Bioethical Committee of the Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education in Warsaw, Poland. Within the studied group, 50% of patients (n = 15) fulfilled ASIA diagnostic criteria. Apart from local complications, we encountered various general symptoms, among which fever (n = 13, 43.3%), tingling and numbness of upper extremities (n = 10, 33.3%) and chronic fatigue (n = 9, 30%) were the most common. These symptoms were present on an ambulatory visit, before qualification to the operation of hydrogel removal. All patients undergoing surgical PAAG removal (n = 8) declared alleviation or complete resolution of the symptoms. Polyacrylamide hydrogel breast filling, although limiting the invasiveness of the procedure in relation to silicone breast implants, also carries the risk of developing ASIA symptoms. The removal of PAAG may bring improvement in some cases.

Breast pain affects the performance of elite female athletes.

Although breast pain is problematic for many active women, no published research has investigated breast pain experienced by elite female athletes. This study aimed to examine the extent that mastalgia and exercise-induced breast pain affected the sporting performance of elite female athletes during training and competition. A custom-designed online survey with questions related to sport participation, as well as the frequency, severity and perceived performance effects of mastalgia and exercise-induced breast pain, was distributed to sporting organisations, coaches, medical staff and teams/clubs throughout Australia. Five hundred and forty female athletes competing nationally or internationally across 49 different sports participated in the survey. Sixty-three percent of respondents reported experiencing breast pain associated with their menstrual cycle and 33% reported that this pain worsened during activity. Forty-four percent of athletes reported experiencing exercise-induced breast pain during training or competition. Both types of breast pain were also reported to negatively affect sporting performance (20% and 32%, respectively). Mastalgia associated with the menstrual cycle and exercise-induced breast pain should be acknowledged as potential problems affecting the sporting performance of elite female athletes. Awareness around the impact of breast pain and the development and implementation of breast pain management strategies are essential for this population.

Breast pain and cancer: should we continue to work-up isolated breast pain?

PURPOSE: To assess the cancer detection rate (CDR) in patients presenting with isolated breast pain. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of consecutive patients presenting to a large tertiary care academic center or an affiliated hospital with isolated breast pain from October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2015. Medical records were reviewed for patient demographics, pain characteristics, imaging findings, and outcome. RESULTS: The study cohort was comprised of 971 exams in 953 patients, with a median age of 50 years. A total of 62.5% (607/971) of the cases were assessed by mammography and ultrasound, 24.4% (237/971) by ultrasound only, and 13.1% (127/971) by mammography only. Including the abnormalities detected in the asymptomatic breast, 88.7% (861/971) of the cases were negative or had benign findings (BI-RADS 1 and 2), 6.8% (66/971) were probably benign (BI-RADS 3), 3.9% (38/971) were suspicious (BI-RADS 4), and 0.6% (6/971) were highly suggestive of malignancy (BI-RADS 5). CDR on initial work-up was 0.8% (8/953), of which 0.6% (4/690) was in average-risk patients while 1.5% (4/263) was in higher-than-average risk patients. CONCLUSIONS: CDR in patients presenting with isolated breast pain overall was low, comparable to the expected incidence of breast cancer in asymptomatic women. Work-up for isolated breast pain may therefore be unnecessary and lead to overutilization of healthcare resources. Routine screening mammography should be encouraged and higher-than-average risk patients may benefit from additional tests.

Persistent breast pain in post-surgery breast cancer survivors and women with no history of breast surgery or cancer: associations with pain catastrophizing, perceived breast cancer risk, breast cancer worry, and emotional distress.

Background: Persistent breast pain (PBP) is prevalent among breast cancer survivors and has powerful negative psychological consequences. The present study provided a first test of the hypothesis that: (a) pain catastrophizing, (b) heightened perceived risk of cancer, and (c) worry that pain indicates cancer may be independent mediating links between breast cancer survivors' experiences of PBP and heightened emotional distress. Methodology: We assessed levels of PBP and psychological factors in breast cancer survivors (Survivor Group: n = 417; Stages I-IIIA; White = 88.7%; Age M = 59.4 years) at their first surveillance mammogram post-surgery (6-15 months). A comparison group of women without histories of breast surgery or cancer (Non-cancer Group: n = 587; White = 78.7%; Age M = 57.4 years) was similarly assessed at the time of a routine screening mammogram. All women completed measures of breast pain, pain catastrophizing, perceived breast cancer risk, and worry that breast pain indicates cancer, as well as measures of emotional distress (symptoms of anxiety, symptoms of depression, and mammography-specific distress). Analyses included race, age, BMI, education, and menopausal status as covariates, with significance set at 0.05. Results: As expected, PBP prevalence was significantly higher in the Survivor Group than in the Non-cancer Group (50.6% vs. 17.5%). PBP+ survivors also had significantly higher levels of emotional distress, pain catastrophizing, mammography-specific distress, and worry that breast pain indicates cancer, compared to PBP- survivors. Structural equation modeling results were significant for all hypothesized mediational pathways. Interestingly, comparisons of PBP+ to PBP- women in the Non-cancer Group showed similar results. Conclusion: These findings suggest the importance of (a) pain catastrophizing, (b) perceived breast cancer risk and, (c) worry that breast pain may indicate cancer, as potential targets for interventions aimed at reducing the negative psychological impact of PBP in post-surgery breast cancer survivors, as well as in unaffected women with PBP due to unknown reasons.

Evaluation of 1294 Female Patients with Breast Pain: A Retrospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: Mastalgia, or breast pain, is one of the most important complaints referred to outpatient clinics. The objective of this study was to evaluate the factors causing mastalgia. All patients who presented to our clinic with complaints of mastalgia were assessed along with their type of mastalgia symptoms, menopausal status, and radiology results. METHODS: A total of 3157 patients with mastalgia complaints visited our clinic between January 2015 and February 2018. Only 1294 of them were retrospectively screened. Age, sex, menopausal (premenopausal, postmenopausal) status, mastalgia type (cyclic, non-cyclic), and imaging findings of the patients were examined. RESULTS: The mean age was 43.8 ± 11.8 (13-86) years, with 453 (35%) patients younger than 40 years and 841 (65%) older than 40. Cyclic mastalgia was found in 207 (16%) patients, and non-cyclic mastalgia was seen in 1087 (84%) patients. A total of 786 (60.7%) patients were premenopausal, and 508 (39.3%) were postmenopausal. Mammography was used in 545 (42.1%) patients; 1190 (92.0%) women had breast ultrasonography. CONCLUSION: Although breast pain is a common symptom in women who are referred to breast outpatient clinics, we concluded that patients who complain of mastalgia should not be afraid of cancer. Despite this and for reassurance, clinical imaging may be necessary to alleviate these patients' suspicions.

Mastalgia and associated factors: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: Mastalgia is a common and painful experience among women. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of breast pain, characteristics of the pain, and factors associated with breast pain, particularly those that can be changed. METHODS: This cross-sectional study comprised women aged from 18 to 65 years. In total, 752 women were included. Risk factors for breast pain were determined using logistic regression analysis with the entry model, and the risk factors for periodic and non-periodic breast pain were assessed using logistic regression analysis with the backward model. RESULTS: Results revealed that the following were significant risk factors: age between 35 and 50 years (OR, 1.614; CI, 1110-2347), university graduate (OR, 3.207; CI, 1.874-5.490), BMI of >30 (OR, 2.068; CI, 1.163-3.674), excessive use of salt (OR, 1,687; CI, 1.075-2 .647), weight gain in the last 5 years (OR, 1.411; CI, 1018-1955), use of a small bra (OR, 3.260; CI, 2204-4821), and use of a large bra (OR, 1.896; CI, 1276-2817). CONCLUSION: Weight control, restriction of salt intake, and selection of a suitable brassiere are important for preventing and managing mastalgia.

Persistent Breast Pain Among Women With Histories of Breast-conserving Surgery for Breast Cancer Compared With Women Without Histories of Breast Surgery or Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: This study compared persistent breast pain among women who received breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer and women without a history of breast cancer. METHODS: Breast cancer survivors (n=200) were recruited at their first postsurgical surveillance mammogram (6 to 15 mo postsurgery). Women without a breast cancer history (n=150) were recruited at the time of a routine screening mammogram. All women completed measures of breast pain, pain interference with daily activities and intimacy, worry about breast pain, anxiety symptoms, and depression symptoms. Demographic and medical information were also collected. RESULTS: Persistent breast pain (duration ≥6 mo) was reported by 46.5% of breast cancer survivors and 12.7% of women without a breast cancer history (P<0.05). Breast cancer survivors also had significantly higher rates of clinically significant persistent breast pain (pain intensity score ≥3/10), as well as higher average breast pain intensity and unpleasantness scores. Breast cancer survivors with persistent breast pain had significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms, as well as pain worry and interference, compared with survivors without persistent breast pain or women without a breast cancer history. Anxiety symptoms were significantly higher in breast cancer survivors with persistent breast pain compared with women without a breast cancer history. DISCUSSION: Results indicate that persistent breast pain negatively impacts women with a history of breast-conserving cancer surgery compared with women without that history. Strategies to ameliorate persistent breast pain and to improve adjustment among women with persistent breast pain should be explored for incorporation into standard care for breast cancer survivors.

An investigation into the prevalence and impact of breast pain, bra issues and breast size on female horse riders.

For female horse riders, breast pain, bra issues and breast size may be important concerns which have yet to be considered. This study aimed to establish the prevalence of breast pain and bra issues in female horse riders and explores the impact of breast size on breast pain and bra issues. A 6-part, 32 question online survey was completed by 1324 females who participated in horse riding activities. Descriptive and chi-squared (χ2) analyses were utilised; data for 1265 participants were included in the final analysis. Breast pain was experienced by 40% of all participants and this was significantly related to self-reported cup size (χ2 = 54.825, P < 0.001), increasing linearly. Breast pain was experienced most frequently during sitting trot and 21% of symptomatic participants reported that breast pain affected their horse riding performance. At least one bra issue was reported by 59% of participants; larger-breasted participants reported experiencing all bra issues more frequently than smaller-breasted participants (P < 0.001). These results demonstrate that educational initiatives are needed to ensure female horse riders are informed about appropriate bra fit and breast support during horse riding to increase comfort and help reduce the potential negative associations with performance.

Predictors of persistent pain after breast cancer surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

BACKGROUND: Persistent pain after breast cancer surgery affects up to 60% of patients. Early identification of those at higher risk could help inform optimal management. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies to explore factors associated with persistent pain among women who have undergone surgery for breast cancer. METHODS: We searched the MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and PsycINFO databases from inception to Mar. 12, 2015, to identify cohort or case-control studies that explored the association between risk factors and persistent pain (lasting ≥ 2 mo) after breast cancer surgery. We pooled estimates of association using random-effects models, when possible, for all independent variables reported by more than 1 study. We reported relative measures of association as pooled odds ratios (ORs) and absolute measures of association as the absolute risk increase. RESULTS: Thirty studies, involving a total of 19 813 patients, reported the association of 77 independent variables with persistent pain. High-quality evidence showed increased odds of persistent pain with younger age (OR for every 10-yr decrement 1.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24-1.48), radiotherapy (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.16-1.57), axillary lymph node dissection (OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.73-3.35) and greater acute postoperative pain (OR for every 1 cm on a 10-cm visual analogue scale 1.16, 95% CI 1.03-1.30). Moderate-quality evidence suggested an association with the presence of preoperative pain (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.01-1.64). Given the 30% risk of pain in the absence of risk factors, the absolute risk increase corresponding to these ORs ranged from 3% (acute postoperative pain) to 21% (axillary lymph node dissection). High-quality evidence showed no association with body mass index, type of breast surgery, chemotherapy or endocrine therapy. INTERPRETATION: Development of persistent pain after breast cancer surgery was associated with younger age, radiotherapy, axillary lymph node dissection, greater acute postoperative pain and preoperative pain. Axillary lymph node dissection provides the only high-yield target for a modifiable risk factor to prevent the development of persistent pain after breast cancer surgery.

Is Breast Pain Greater in Active Females Compared to the General Population in the UK?

Cyclic and noncyclic breast pain effect up to 60% of women, decreasing the quality of life. In addition, exercise-induced breast pain (thought to be caused by tension on breast skin and fascia during breast motion) is reported in up to 72% of exercising females. These forms of breast pain may be experienced concurrently; therefore, it is hypothesized that this compound effect may cause higher breast pain prevalence and severity in active populations. This study investigated the prevalence and severity of breast pain in an active cohort, compared to a random cohort. A random sample of 234 UK females completed a self-administered survey reporting physical activity history, prevalence, severity and frequency of breast pain, breast support habits, bra satisfaction, occurrence of bra-related issues, and demographics. This sample was age-matched to a sample of active females (n = 234) from a cross-sectional survey of 1,285 female marathon runners who completed a similar survey. Breast pain prevalence was significantly lower in the active cohort (32.1%) compared to the random cohort (43.6%), however, the severity and frequency of breast pain was similar in both cohorts. Females in the active cohort undertook significantly more physical activity, were lighter, had greater nulliparous rates, greater adherence to sports bra use, but less adherence to professional bra fitting. With lower breast pain rates in the active cohort the hypothesis of a compound effect of multiple forms of breast pain causing an increase in prevalence and severity is rejected. The lower prevalence may be related to increased physical activity, reduced body mass, and increased sports bra use. Sports bra use is already recommended in the literature for symptomatic women, however, this is the first study to report that increased physical activity and weight loss may be an appropriate life style choice to reduce the prevalence of breast pain.

Predictive factors for the development of persistent pain after breast cancer surgery.

Previous studies have reported that 15% to 25% of patients treated for breast cancer experience long-term moderate-to-severe pain in the area of surgery, potentially lasting for several years. Few prospective studies have included all potential risk factors for the development of persistent pain after breast cancer surgery (PPBCS). The aim of this prospective cohort study was to comprehensively identify factors predicting PPBCS. Patients scheduled for primary breast cancer surgery were recruited. Assessments were conducted preoperatively, the first 3 days postoperatively, and 1 week, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery. A comprehensive validated questionnaire was used. Handling of the intercostobrachial nerve was registered by the surgeon. Factors known by the first 3 weeks after surgery were modeled in ordinal logistic regression analyses. Five hundred thirty-seven patients with baseline data were included, and 475 (88%) were available for analysis at 1 year. At 1-year follow-up, the prevalence of moderate-to-severe pain at rest was 14% and during movement was 7%. Factors associated with pain at rest were age <65 years (odds ratio [OR]: 1.8, P = 0.02), breast conserving surgery (OR: 2.0, P = 0.006), axillary lymph node dissection with preservation of the intercostobrachial nerve (OR: 3.1, P = 0.0005), moderate-to-severe preoperative pain (OR: 5.7, P = 0.0002), acute postoperative pain (OR: 2.8, P = 0.0018), and signs of neuropathic pain at 1 week (OR: 2.1, P = 0.01). Higher preoperative diastolic blood pressure was associated with reduced risk of PPBCS (OR: 0.98 per mm Hg, P = 0.01). Both patient- and treatment-related risk factors predicted PPBCS. Identifying patients at risk may facilitate targeted intervention.

Consistency of breast and arm symptoms during the first two years after breast cancer surgery.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To examine the severity and development of breast and arm symptoms separately during the two years following breast cancer surgery, and to examine whether previously defined predictors of arm symptoms are associated with breast symptoms. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study with two-year follow-up. SETTING: Three institutions in the Stockholm, Sweden, region. SAMPLE: 645 women, aged 20-63 years, enrolled within 12 weeks of surgery for primary breast cancer. METHODS: Baseline register and questionnaire data with five follow-ups were submitted to descriptive, inferential, and logistic regression analysis. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Severity of breast and arm symptoms measured by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer breast cancer-specific quality-of-life questionnaire. FINDINGS: Most participants had undergone breast-conserving surgery and sentinel lymph node dissection, and were scheduled for postoperative radiation therapy. Overall mean levels of breast and arm symptoms were low, but with large individual variations. At all six time points, the mean levels of breast symptoms were significantly higher than those of arm symptoms. Overall, the mean level of both types of symptoms decreased during follow-up. A body mass index (BMI) of 25 or greater and breast symptoms at eight months were associated with having breast symptoms at two years. Arm symptoms at baseline and at eight months, and radiation therapy and a BMI of 25 or greater were associated with having arm symptoms at two years. CONCLUSIONS: Breast symptoms show different patterns of change and are not associated with the same factors as arm symptoms. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: For nurses monitoring women treated for breast cancer, the results of this study provide knowledge regarding the importance of early symptom identification and long-term symptoms after treatment.

Long-term clinical outcomes in women with breast pain in the absence of additional clinical findings: mammography remains indicated.

The purpose of the study was to determine the long-term clinical outcomes of women with breast pain in the absence of additional symptoms or signs (isolated breast pain), and the utility of mammography in their work-up. IRB approved, HIPAA compliant study retrospectively reviewed 1,386 patients referred for breast imaging with ICD-9 code for breast pain between 1/1/2006 and 12/31/2007. Of these, 617 consecutive women (mean age, 49 years) with isolated breast pain, mammogram, and follow-up (mean, 51 months) constituted the study group. Clinical data, mammographic and sonographic BI-RADS assessments, and geographic relationship between the site of cancer and pain were evaluated. The frequency of malignancies and of specific benign outcomes, both at and subsequent to the time of presentation, was determined. Breast cancer and specific benign outcomes were diagnosed in the painful breast of 11/617 (1.8 %) and 63/617 (10.2 %) women, respectively. Majority of the cancers (9/11, 81.8 %) were diagnosed subsequent (5-52 months) to initial imaging evaluation, whereas the majority of benign outcomes (52/63, 82.5 %) were diagnosed at initial presentation. Diagnostic mammography at initial presentation had a negative predictive value of 99.8 % (95 % CI 99.1 %, 100 %), specificity of 98.5 % (95 % CI 97.2 %, 99.3 %), and sensitivity of 66.7 % (95 % CI 11.6 %, 94.5 %). Three cancers were subsequently diagnosed in the contralateral (non-painful) breast. Eleven of 14 (78.6 %) cancers were in the symptomatic breast, of which 9 (81.8 %) geographically corresponded to the same area of focal pain. Thus, infrequently, breast cancer may clinically present as or be preceded by isolated breast pain and diagnostic mammography is useful for assessment.

A comparison of bleeding patterns and cycle control using two transdermal contraceptive systems: a multicenter, open-label, randomized study.

OBJECTIVE(S): To investigate the bleeding pattern and cycle control parameters of a contraceptive patch containing 0.55 mg ethinyl estradiol (EE) and 2.1 mg gestodene (GSD) compared with a patch containing 0.6 mg EE and 6 mg norelgestromin (NGMN). STUDY DESIGN: In this phase III, open-label, randomized, parallel-group trial, healthy women aged 18-35 years (smokers aged 18-30 years) received either the EE/GSD patch (n=200) or the EE/NGMN patch (n=198). Treatment consisted of one patch per week for 3 weeks followed by a 7-day, patch-free interval for seven cycles. Bleeding control was assessed in two 90-day reference periods. RESULTS: In reference period 1, mean number of bleeding/spotting days was comparable across treatment groups (p>0.05). However, in reference period 2, there were fewer bleeding/spotting days in the EE/GSD patch group (15.7 versus 18.4; p<0.0001). Mean number of bleeding/spotting episodes was comparable across groups for both reference periods, but bleeding/spotting episodes were shorter for the EE/GSD patch than the EE/NGMN patch during reference period 1 (5.13 days versus 5.53 days, respectively; p<0.05) and reference period 2 (5.07 versus 5.66; p=0.0001). Both treatment groups showed a similar frequency of withdrawal bleeding episodes; however, across all seven cycles, the length of these episodes was consistently shorter with the EE/GSD patch (p<0.01). There were no notable treatment differences in intracyclic bleeding. CONCLUSION(S): Bleeding pattern and cycle control achieved with the EE/GSD patch was similar to that of the EE/NGMN patch. IMPLICATIONS STATEMENT: The paper presents data on the bleeding pattern and cycle control parameters of an investigational transdermal contraceptive patch containing EE and GSD compared with an approved contraceptive patch containing EE and NGMN. This descriptive study found that bleeding patterns associated with the EE/GSD patch were similar to those of an EE/NGMN patch providing higher EE exposure.

Mastalgia: Characteristics and Associated Factors in Thai Women.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify the clinical presentation, natural history, severity and associatedfactors in Thai women presented with mastalgia. MATERIAL AND METHOD: One hundred and five Thai women with breast pain who visited HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Medical Center were interviewed with breast pain. The data about socio-economic status, sign and symptoms of breast pain, associated factors, mental status and quality of life at first presentation and 6-12 months afterward were collected. RESULTS: In 105 Thai women who present with mastalgia, the pain was associated with menstrual cycle, around 70 percents. Both cyclic and non-cyclic mastalgia patients had similar characteristics as type, intensity and location. There were no diferences in caffeine and high-fat food intake between mild and severe mastalgia. In twenty-seven percent ofpatients who had severe breast pain, the pain affected their work, sleeping and daily entertainment. Though the pain did not influence mental status, it affected some part of quality of life such as apart of bodily pain, socialfunction and mental health. At second follow-up, 80 patients had decreased severity and intensity of pain. The mental status and quality of life evaluations were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The results showed that most mastalgia was associated with menstruation. Diet showed no definitive association with breast pain severity and severe mastalgia influenced patients' daily activity and quality of life.