[Diagnosis and treatment of mastodynia]

Breast pain or mastalgia is a frequent complaint and it may represent various pathological conditions. After a thorough evaluation and reassurance of the patients, only those whose symptoms are severe enough to alter their life-style still require therapy. In some cases it will be indicated to modify or to stop an oral contraception or to adapt a hormone replacement therapy. Those women still resistant to treatment may experience relief from evening primrose oil supplements, bromocriptine, danazol, some progestins, tamoxifen or GnRH analogues. Therapy of non cyclic breast pain is made according to the underlying pathology. If no substrate is present, treatment is the same as for cyclical mastalgia but the response is diminished.