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The long-term course of mastalgia
E L Davies1, C A Gateley, M Miers
1Department of Surgery, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK.
Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine
|December 16, 1998
Summary
Severe mastalgia, a common breast pain condition in women, often persists long-term. For cyclical mastalgia, menopause often brings relief, while non-cyclical mastalgia may resolve spontaneously.
Area of Science:
- Women's Health
- Clinical Medicine
- Pain Management
Background:
- Mastalgia is a prevalent condition affecting women during their reproductive years.
- Severe mastalgia can significantly impact quality of life.
- Understanding the long-term prognosis of mastalgia is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the long-term course and outcomes of severe mastalgia in women.
- To differentiate the long-term prognosis between cyclical mastalgia (CM) and non-cyclical mastalgia (NCM).
Main Methods:
- A postal questionnaire was distributed to 212 patients previously studied in 1983.
- 175 patients (83% response rate) with severe mastalgia were included.
- Patients were categorized into cyclical mastalgia (CM) and non-cyclical mastalgia (NCM) groups.
Main Results:
- The median age of onset for breast pain was 36 years, with a median duration of 12 years.
- Pain persisted in 57% of CM patients and 64% of NCM patients.
- Resolution in CM was often linked to menopause, while NCM resolution appeared more spontaneous.
Conclusions:
- Severe mastalgia frequently follows a chronic, relapsing course.
- Management often requires repeated pharmacological interventions.
- The long-term trajectory differs between cyclical and non-cyclical mastalgia, with distinct resolution patterns.
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