A galactocele (also called lacteal cyst or milk cyst) is a

retention cyst Retention may refer to: General * Recall (memory), in learning, the ability to recall facts and figures in memory * Memory and retention in learning * Selective retention * Cultural retention * Customer retention * University student retention ...

containing milk or a milky substance that is usually located in the mammary glands. They can occur in women during or shortly after lactation. They present as a firm mass, often subareolar, and are caused by the obstruction of a lactiferous duct. Clinically, they appear similar to a cyst on examination. The duct becomes more distended over time by

epithelial cell Epithelium or epithelial tissue is one of the four basic types of animal tissue, along with connective tissue, muscle tissue and nervous tissue. It is a thin, continuous, protective layer of compactly packed cells with a little intercellula ...

s and milk. It may rarely be complicated by a secondary infection and result in

abscess An abscess is a collection of pus that has built up within the tissue of the body. Signs and symptoms of abscesses include redness, pain, warmth, and swelling. The swelling may feel fluid-filled when pressed. The area of redness often extends b ...

formation. These cysts may rupture leading to formation of inflammatory reaction and may mimic malignancy. Once lactation has ended the cyst should resolve on its own without intervention. A galactocele is not normally infected as the milk within is

sterile Sterile or sterility may refer to: *Asepsis, a state of being free from biological contaminants * Sterile (archaeology), a sediment deposit which contains no evidence of human activity *Sterilization (microbiology), any process that eliminates or ...

and has no outlet through which to become contaminated. Treatment is by aspiration of the contents or by excision of the cyst.

Antibiotic An antibiotic is a type of antimicrobial substance active against bacteria. It is the most important type of antibacterial agent for fighting bacterial infections, and antibiotic medications are widely used in the treatment and prevention of ...

s are given to prevent infection. Galactoceles may be associated with oral contraceptive use. They have been known to present, although rarely, after Breast augmentation and Breast reduction.

References

External links

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