Circulating levels and breast cyst fluid concentrations of human chorionic gonadotropin, progesterone and testosterone in women with gross cystic breast disease.

Circulating levels and cyst fluid concentrations of human chorionic gonadotropin, progesterone and testosterone were measured in 30 premenopausal women with gross cystic breast disease. Specific radioimmunoassay procedures were used. Amounts of human chorionic gonadotropin exceeding 5.0 mIU/ml were found in cyst fluid of many patients, but not in serum. Progesterone and testosterone concentrations in breast cyst fluid were significantly higher than in serum (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.001, respectively).