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Mastalgia: evaluation and management
1Department of Nurse Practitioners, Graduate School of Nursing, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 1335 East West Hwy, Suite 9-300, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA. dpadden@usuhs.mil
Nurse Practitioner Forum
|February 28, 2001
Summary
Mastalgia, or breast pain, is a common issue for women, often causing distress. Ruling out serious conditions allows most patients to find relief through simple reassurance.
Area of Science:
- Women's health
- Primary care medicine
- Breast health
Background:
- Mastalgia (breast pain) is a prevalent and distressing symptom experienced by many women.
- It represents the most frequent breast-related complaint encountered in primary care settings.
- A significant proportion, around 66% of working women, experience mastalgia, often seeking medical attention due to fear of breast cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline the essential evaluation steps for mastalgia.
- To emphasize the importance of ruling out significant breast disease.
- To highlight the effectiveness of reassurance in managing mastalgia.
Main Methods:
- Conducting a comprehensive patient history.
- Performing a thorough clinical breast examination.
- Assessing for and excluding serious underlying breast pathology.
Main Results:
- The majority of women presenting with mastalgia do not have significant breast disease.
- Simple reassurance is an effective management strategy for most patients after serious conditions are ruled out.
Conclusions:
- Mastalgia is a common condition in women, frequently linked to anxiety about cancer.
- A systematic approach involving history and physical examination is crucial for diagnosis.
- Effective management often involves reassurance once malignancy is excluded.