Objectives: Increased estrogen activity and prolactin hypersecretion is a hormonal reason for Benign Breast Diseases.
Design: To evaluate hormonal disorders in women with gross breast cysts.
Material and methods: 30 women with gross breast cysts (over 10 mm in diameter) have been investigated. Cytohormonal vaginal swabs and serum levels of prolactin, estradiol and gonadotropins were evaluated.
Results: Normal prolactin levels were found in 96.7% of cases, but in 8 women with recurrent breast cysts after repeated FNA-biopsies prolactin secretion stimulated by metoclopramide was significantly increased. Low progesterone activity in all women and low estrogen activity in 65.3% were shown. Absolute high estrogen activity was diagnosed only in 8.7% women with gross breast cysts.
Conclusions: Nearly all patients with gross breast cysts have normal prolactin and low progesterone levels. High estrogen levels appear very seldom and in most cases these patients are hypoestrogenic.