title: Ultrasound findings of the physiological changes and most common breast diseases during pregnancy and lactation.
abstract: Because of the physiological changes that occur during pregnancy and lactation, diagnostic ultrasound of the breast during these periods is a challenge for physicians. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of imaging, anatomy, and physiology of the breast is important to effectively diagnosing diseases that can arise in women who are pregnancy or lactating. The aim of this article was to review the physiological changes that occur in the breasts during pregnancy and lactation, as well as to describe the main features of the breast diseases that occur most frequently during these periods.
authors.affiliation: MSc, Doctoral Student in the Graduate Program in Health Sciences at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Physician at the Maternidade Escola Januário Cicco, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antônio Arildo Reginaldo
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: de Holanda
authors.affiliation: PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Katherine da Silveira
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: PhD, Adjunct Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Physician at the Maternidade Escola Januário Cicco, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Robinson Dias
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: de Medeiros
authors.affiliation: PhD, Visiting Professor at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: António Manuel Gouveia
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: PhD, Full Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Técia Maria de Oliveira
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Maranhão
keywords: Breast; Lactation; Pregnancy; Ultrasonography