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Benign breast disease in the postmenopausal woman

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Abstract

Breast symptoms are surprisingly common in the postmenopausal period, especially (but not only) when taking hormonal therapy. All of the common conditions of the premenopausal period may be seen. Clinical examination is usually easier and more precise in the postmenopausal woman. The importance of accurate clinical observation is stressed, as a diagnosis can usually be made in this way, supplemented by mammography and aspiration cytology where reliable services exist.

Résumé

La pathologie du sein est étonnemment fréquente chez la femme postménopausique, surtout (mais pas exclusivement) lorsqu'elle est sous traitement hormonal. Toute la pathologie de la période préménopausique peut se voir. L'examen clinique est plus facile et plus précis chez la femme ménopausée. L'importance de l'inspection clinique est soulignée, la plupart des diagnostics n'y résistent pas. L'examen est ensuite complété par la mammographie et la cytologie par ponction.

Resumen

Síntomas mamarios son sorprendentemente comunes en el período postmenopáusico, especialmente (pero no exclusivamente) cuando la paciente toma terapia hormonal; todas las alteraciones patológicas comunes en el período premenopáusico pueden ser observadas también en el postmenopáusico. En tanto que clínicamente la frecuencia de estas alteraciones disminuye en forma dramática después de la menopausia, histológicamente se hacen más frecuentes con el avance de la edad hasta constituírse en hallazgo casi universal. El examen clínico es generalmente más fácil y certero en la mujer postmenopáusica. Se hace énfasis sobre la importancia de la observación clínica meticulosa, puesto que usualmente por su intermedio puede ser establecido el diagnóstico con el complemento de mamografía y citología por aspiración cuando se dispone de tales servicios.

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Devitt, J.E. Benign breast disease in the postmenopausal woman. World J. Surg. 13, 731–735 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01658423

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