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Indian Journal of Surgery
Medknow Publications on behalf of Association of Surgeons of India
ISSN: 0972-2068
Vol. 66, No. 2, 2004, pp. 89-92
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Bioline Code: is04021
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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Indian Journal of Surgery, Vol. 66, No. 2, 2004, pp. 89-92
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Refractory mastalgia or inadequately treated mastalgia?
Krishnaswamy Uma
Abstract
Background:
Though mastalgia is a common problem standard algorithms of management are not always followed by clinicians. Inadequately treated mastalgia arises as a consequence. This is labelled as refractory mastalgia and referred to breast clinics for further treatment.
Aims:
To determine whether instances of mastalgia labelled as refractory were truly refractory to treatment or whether they were merely instances of inadequate treatment, by observing their response to non-pharmacological treatment.
Settings and Design:
A prospective observational study was undertaken in an outpatient breast clinic setting.
Material and Methods:
Fifty-eight patients with "refractory" mastalgia were evaluated. Treatment was by reassurance, low-fat, methyl xanthine restricted diet and dietary supplementation with 500 mg/day of evening primrose oil. Response to treatment was assessed at three and six months.
Statistical analysis used: Frequency, cross tabulations and 95% CI were determined by a professional statistical software package (SPSS).
Results:
There was a 94.3% overall response to non-pharmacological treatment, which indicated that they were all instances of inadequately treated mastalgia and not refractory mastalgia.
Conclusion:
Instances of mastalgia are being labelled as refractory without acknowledging inadequacy of treatment.
Keywords
Refractory mastalgia, Inadequately treated mastalgia, Standard algorithms of Mastalgia management
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© Copyright 2004 Indian Journal of Surgery.
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