Gestational and secretory hyperplasia are pregnancy and lactation related physiological changes occurring in breast tissues.
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Pathology
The normal physiology of pregnancy causes a lobular enlargement of terminal duct lobular units along with formation of new ones during the second month of gestation. In the following 2 months, there is vacuolation and accumulation of secretions seen in these distended lobular glands.
Mammography
- areas of increased breast parenchymal density
- increased breast size
- focally or diffusely distributed round microcalcifications (hyperplasia in the lobular acini)
- rarely irregular, linearly distributed or branching microcalcifications (ductal hyperplasia) - raises suspicion of malignancy
Differential diagnosis
Pregnancy-like hyperplasia or pseudolactational hyperplasia, which manifests with the same radiologic and pathologic findings in non-pregnant, non-lactating women.
Prognosis
No described malignant potentiality yet.