Pain in the breast is a common symptom in general surgical practice. Most cases are benign and due to cyclical mastalgia, but occasionally pain may be the presenting symptom of carcinoma.

Causes

  • Cyclical mastalgia (fibroadenosis, cystic mastitis)

  • Noncyclical mastalgia

  • Duct ectasia

  • Breast abscess ( Fig. 8 )

    Figure 8, A large abscess of the left breast .

  • Pregnancy

  • Lactation

  • Carcinoma (15% of lumps are painful)

  • Fat necrosis

  • Mastitis

  • Tietze’s disease

  • Mondor’s disease

  • Rib secondaries

  • Herpes zoster

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