What is a galactocele?

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Multiple Choice

What is a galactocele?

Explanation:
A galactocele is a milk-filled cyst that forms when a lactiferous duct becomes obstructed during lactation, causing milk to accumulate and distend the duct into a cystic space. The fluid inside is milky, which distinguishes it from blood-filled lesions (hematomas), fat-containing lesions, or solid tumors. On ultrasound, it typically appears as a cystic structure that may show debris or layering if the milky fluid settles, and it usually lacks the solid components or internal vascularity seen with tumors. This combination of a milky, ductal-origin cyst explains why a milk-filled cyst is the best description.

A galactocele is a milk-filled cyst that forms when a lactiferous duct becomes obstructed during lactation, causing milk to accumulate and distend the duct into a cystic space. The fluid inside is milky, which distinguishes it from blood-filled lesions (hematomas), fat-containing lesions, or solid tumors. On ultrasound, it typically appears as a cystic structure that may show debris or layering if the milky fluid settles, and it usually lacks the solid components or internal vascularity seen with tumors. This combination of a milky, ductal-origin cyst explains why a milk-filled cyst is the best description.

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