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Previous Volume 353:275-285 July 21, 2005 Number 3 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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Hormones and growth factors act on stromal and epithelial cells to regulate the development, maturation, and differentiation of mammary-gland cells.^1,2 Broadly summarized, estrogen mediates the development and elongation of ductal tissue, progesterone facilitates ductal branching and lobulo–alveolar development, and prolactin regulates the production of milk protein. At puberty, estradiol and progesterone levels increase to initiate breast development. A complex tree-like structure results, comprising 5 to 10 primary milk ducts that originate at the nipple, 20 to 40 segmental ducts, and 10 to 100 subsegmental ducts that end in glandular units called terminal-duct lobular units.³ In the adult breast, cyclic changes . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Changes in the Normal Breast

Classification of Benign Breast Lesions

Causal Factors in Benign Breast Disorders

Progression to Malignant Disease

Clinical Features of Benign Breast Disease

Breast Pain

Nonbreast Pain

Nipple Discharge

Focal and Diffuse Breast Lumps

Abnormalities Associated with an Increased Risk of Breast Cancer

Practical Management

Treatment

Cyclic Breast Pain

Noncyclic Pain

Focal Lesions

Nipple Discharge

Prevention of Breast Cancer

Source Information

From the Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville (R.J.S.); and the Department of Surgery, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom (R.M.).

Address reprint requests to Dr. Santen at the University of Virginia, P.O. Box 801416, Charlottesville, VA 22908, or at rjs5y@virginia.edu.

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