Presentation, management and outcome of mastalgia

To find out the causes of mastalgia in females of various age groups, its management and outcome. Descriptive study. The study was carried out in the breast clinic of Surgical Unit-I, Ward-3 of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi. From January 2001 to December 2001. The study included 100 consecutive patients diagnosed as a case of mastalgia on the basis of history and clinical examination. Out of 100 patients, 56 presented with cyclical mastalgia, 28 non-cyclical mastalgia, 13 associated withfibroadenoma and 3 had carcinoma. Cyclical mastalgia is commonest in pre-menopausal women whereas noncyclical mastalgia is common in post-menopausal women. Reassurance and good analgesia can cure more than 50% of patients presenting with mastalgia. Almost all patients of cyclical mastalgia were cured by evening primrose oil. Some of the cases may have other associated lesions which must be excluded carefully