[Drug treatment of benign breast diseases]

During the last decade many new experimental and clinical data were published demonstrating the inclusion of estrogens, progestagens, androgens, corticosteroids, prolactin, growth hormone and of insulin in the endocrine control of normal mammary tissue. Different hormonal disorders, such as lowered progesterone-estrogen-index (P.E.I.), anovulation, hyperprolactinemia, or increased prolactin-sensitivity of mammary tissue, are often responsible for the induction and/or maintenance of benign breast disease. therefore the endocrine treatment possesses deciding importance for the improvement or removal of breast symptoms. The present paper evaluates the role of progestagens, prolactin-inhibitors or anti-gonadotropins in the differentiated therapy of mastodynia, mastopathia, mammary secretion, mastitis, mammary hyperplasia, premenstrual syndrome and other disturbances. Dose levels and side effects of the various drugs are reviewed. The relation to other therapeutic procedures, as non-hormonal preparations or operative methods, is discussed.