[Treatment of cystic mastopathy with puncture and administration of an LHRH analogue].

Goserelin depot (Zoladex) was administered for 6 months to seven women with premenopausal gross cystic breast disease. For each patient at least three cysts were followed up by ultrasonography and radiography (21 cysts in total). Hormone assessments showed a suppression of serum oestradiol at 8-12 weeks. Two-thirds of the observed cysts continued to grow after 8-12 weeks, but two-thirds had decreased in size by 20-24 weeks and this decrease had continued 12 weeks after cessation of treatment. Cysts containing fluid with a higher Na+/K+ ratio (extracellular fluid type) responded earlier to treatment. These patients had received other hormone treatments without success. The LHRH analogue treatment seems to be a promising and effective adjuvant to aspiration in the management of gross cystic breast disease, although maximal efficacy was only observed after 20-24 weeks.