title: A new radiological approach to cyclic mastalgia: venous doppler ultrasound.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the role of the venous system in cyclical mastalgia.
  
  
  METHODS
  25 healthy women and 39 women with cyclic mastalgia underwent venous Doppler examination in both pre- and postmenstrual period. Upper-outer quadrant veins of breast were evaluated. The impedance indices of both groups were compared in both the premenstrual and postmenstrual period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the premenstrual period, venous impedance indices were significantly higher in the patients with cyclic mastalgia (p=0.004) than in the control group. After the menstrual period, there was no difference in venous impedance indices between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Excessive tissue oedema might be responsible for both a tension-mediated pain and a compression of the venous system thereby showing higher impedance than that in control group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Fatih University, Cankaya Hospital, Yukariayranci/Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zeynep Ilerisoy
authors.initials: ZI
authors.lastname: Yakut
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kafali
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karaoglanoglu
authors.forename: Asli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Köktener
authors.forename: Candan Iltemir
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Duvan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001940:Breast / Q000098:blood supply*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014465:Ultrasonics; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary; D014680:Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*