In plain words
A galactocele is a cyst in the breast filled with milk. It feels like a smooth, round lump that moves under the skin. It is usually not painful, and the skin over it is usually not red or hot. It can form when a milk duct is blocked and milk pools behind the block. Some are found during weaning, when milk production slows down. Clinicians tell it apart from and from an abscess by how it feels and how it changes over time. Imaging, usually ultrasound, can confirm the diagnosis. Any new breast lump is worth having a clinician examine, because some lumps need a closer look.
The deeper version
A galactocele is a retention cyst of a lactiferous duct or lobule containing milk. It is typically unilocular, smooth-walled, and nontender, with no overlying erythema. Duct obstruction is the presumed mechanism, with milk accumulating distal to the blockage, and the trigger varies from case to case. The differential includes mastitis, which is tender and red and often comes with fever or aches, and breast abscess, a tender, fluctuant collection of pus. Ultrasound shows a well-defined, mostly anechoic lesion. Many resolve over time with continued drainage or spontaneously. Aspiration or surgical excision is reserved for persistent or symptomatic cases. The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine's protocol on the (2022) sets out the clinical distinctions used in lactation practice.
Where it comes up
- Clogged ducts and mastitisPostpartum: Your Body
- Engorgement when milk comes inPostpartum: Your Body
- Keeping ducts clear: prevention habitsFeeding Your Baby
- Weaning: gradual, abrupt, and baby-ledFeeding Your Baby
What mothers here say about galactocele
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Sources
- Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine — Clinical Protocol 36: The mastitis spectrum (2022)