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What is a breast cyst?

A breast cyst is a fluid-filled sac (like a tiny balloon) inside the breast. Breast cysts are common in women. They might cause a little pain, but they are usually benign (not cancerous).

What is breast cyst aspiration?

In breast cyst aspiration, your healthcare provider uses a small needle to drain fluid from a cyst.

When is breast cyst aspiration recommended?

A breast lump that you can feel might hurt or make you worry about cancer. Breast cyst aspiration can help your healthcare provider find out if the lump you feel is a cyst or a tumor. Aspiration gives you this information right away, so you don’t have to wait for the results of a mammogram or an ultrasound exam.

Path to improved health

How is breast cyst aspiration performed?

Your healthcare provider might numb your skin first. Then, your healthcare provider will insert a small needle into the breast lump. They may use an ultrasound to get a better picture of the lump. Using a syringe, your healthcare provider will try to drain fluid from the lump.  There could be several results from the aspiration:

• If the lump is a cyst that contains watery fluid and the cyst goes away after it is drained, you will not need other tests.
• If the lump contains bloody fluid, your healthcare provider will send the fluid to a lab to find out what it is. You may or may not need further testing.
• If the lump is solid and does not contain fluid your healthcare provider may recommend imaging tests. This could be an ultrasound or a mammogram. These will give your healthcare provider a better look at the lump. Your healthcare provider may need to remove a tiny bit of the lump and send it to a lab to be examined. At the lab, the fluid or sample from the lump can be examined under a microscope to look for cancer cells.

What are the benefits of breast cyst aspiration?

Your healthcare provider may be able to diagnose your breast lump on the same day that you get the aspiration. If the lump is clearly a cyst, you will know right away, and you might not need to have other tests performed.

Things to consider

What are the risks of breast cyst aspiration?

Before you have breast cyst aspiration, your healthcare provider will talk to you about possible problems. You might have some discomfort where the needle goes in. You might have a little bruise on your breast. You might get an infection where the needle goes in. But these complications are uncommon.

Do I need to see my healthcare provider again after I have breast cyst aspiration?

Yes. If the lump in your breast is a cyst and the cyst is drained successfully, your healthcare provider will want to check the area in 4 to 6 weeks to make sure that the cyst has not filled up with fluid again. This follow-up visit is important. A cyst that refills with fluid can be a problem. If you have a cyst that refills or you develop a new cyst, contact your healthcare provider.