Cyclical mastalgia: clinical and mammographic observations in a screened population

The incidence of cyclical mastalgia in well women presenting for breast screening was 69 per cent. The incidence of cyclical mastalgia increases with age up to the menopause. There was a higher incidence of 'high risk' mammographic patterns and a lower incidence of 'low risk' patterns, according to the Wolfe classification, in women with cyclical mastalgia compared with the rest of the screened population. This finding correlated with the severity, duration and need for treatment. The differences in breast pattern did not persist after the menopause. The question of whether or not cyclical mastalgia can be regarded as a risk factor for breast cancer is uncertain and needs further evaluation.