Oil Cysts - should I have them tested?

YoungWoman

Hi,

I'm in my early 30s and had my first mammo and ultrasound as a result of finding a lump.  My maternal grandmother passed at the age of 42 from breast cancer, ( I do not know at what age she was diagnosed).  My mother has a history of benign tumors in her neck, spine, and brain. There is history of other cancers on my dad's side, but not breast cancer and not immediate family.

After the mammo and U/S, the radiologist said that I have 5 oil cysts in my breast, where I was feeling the lump and not to worry about them.   ACS says that oil cysts should be diagnosed by fine needle aspiration (http://www.cancer.org/healthy/findcancerearly/womenshealth/non-cancerousbreastconditions/non-cancerous-breast-conditions-fat-necrosis-oil-cysts)

When I go back to my primary should I push to have the fine needle aspiration done or should I just take their word that these are oil cysts and get on with my life?

Thanks.

marie5890

No, you don't need to have them aspirated. Cysts are easily seen on U/S being cysts, as they do not present themselves as a solid mass. Cancer presents itself as a solid mass  

Now if you WANT to have them aspirated for peace of mind, then do so. But it's not necessary. 

I read the link that you provided and this is want it says (emphasis mine)

"Oil cysts (like other cysts) can be seen on ultrasound and then diagnosed by needle aspiration (asp-er-A-shun) – a thin needle is put into the cyst to take out the cyst fluid. This can also serve as treatment, but it’s not usually needed unless the cyst is bothersome"

YoungWoman

Thanks for the response Marie.  I am reading the ACS site differently.  

To me it says:
It can be hard to tell apart oil cysts and breast cancer from a breast exam or mammogram.
Oil Cysts can be seen on an ultrasound,
And are then diagnosed by aspiration.

To me the radiologist was diagnosing via ultrasound, but I think ACS is saying that diagnosis should be done via aspiration.  This is why I am not sure about whether to push for the aspiration.

I want to just let it go and move on, but if the radiologist is making a jump she shouldn't be, I don't want to find out the hard way.  My mom almost died, because her doctor essentially told her she was a bored housewife, when in reality she had a huge tumor entwined in her bracheoplexus, neck, spine and brain.

AZ85048

YoungWoman - I agree with marie5890.  Over the years I've had dozens of cysts, some aspirated, some biopsied, but all were benign.  They came and went over the years and as a general rule I just ignored them unless there was a real problem.  I would have four or five at any given time in each breast, so it was hard to keep up.   You're the only one who knows what you should do for your peace of mind, (to aspirate or not to aspirate) but usually the general consensus is to do nothing.  (They'll more than likely go away on their own.)  Good luck to you with whatever you decide to do...

marie5890

YoungWoman,

Like AZ said, if it gives you peace of mind for sure go for the aspiration

But it's really not necessary, medically speaking, unless they both you.

(I did edit my 1st post as I didn't proof read it. Cyst do NOT present themselves as a solid mass, and U/S can detect them. Cacer presents itself as solid. Sorry for the typos)