Fibrocystic breasts

Monitoring of patient with fibrocystic change of the breast is based on two factors:

• Clinical presentation and symptoms: patients with recurring or chronic symptoms of pain or breast cysts may require follow up at 3- to 6-month intervals based on the severity and impact of symptoms on their lifestyle. A short interval follow-up evaluation is recommended after cyst aspiration to evaluate for cyst recurrence (which may be associated with the presence of intracystic papilloma or cancer).

• Histologic assessment of breast cancer risk: the minority of patients who have evidence of hyperplastic changes with atypia should receive secondary prevention measures.