Can mastalgia be another somatic symptom in fibromyalgia syndrome?

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:The purposes of this study were to determine the coexistence of mastalgia and fibromyalgia, to investigate the effects of this combination on pain patterns, and to discuss the status of breast pain in the diagnostic algorithm of fibromyalgia syndrome.METHODS:Sixty-one female patients reporting breast pain during the last three months and 53 female patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome were enrolled in this study. The Breast Pain Questionnaire was administered to all participants in the mastalgia group and to those in the fibromyalgia syndrome group who had experienced mastalgia during the past three months. The patients in the fibromyalgia syndrome group were evaluated using the 2010 preliminary American College of Rheumatology classification criteria. All of the patients in the mastalgia group were evaluated for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia syndrome by a single physiatrist. The coexistence and pain patterns of mastalgia and fibromyalgia were assessed statistically.RESULTS:Approximately half of the patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (47.2%) reported having mastalgia at the time of admission and 37.7% of the patients with mastalgia met the diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia syndrome. The patients with mastalgia in the fibromyalgia syndrome group had significantly higher total breast pain scores compared with the women in the mastalgia group. In addition, the patients with fibromyalgia syndrome in the mastalgia group had significantly higher Widespread Pain Index and Symptom Severity Scale scores than the patients with fibromyalgia syndrome.CONCLUSIONS:We suggest that mastalgia can be an aspect of the central sensitivity syndrome and can be added to the somatic symptoms of fibromyalgia.

The Importance of Electromyographic Findings in Determining the Etiology of Mastalgia

“…The use of EMG to obtain information about muscle response or electrical activity to a nerve's stimulation of a muscle provides information to the clinician regarding many conditions such as muscle aches, muscle weakness, anomalies related to muscle movements, and muscle atrophy (24,29). Although many studies have evaluated the relationship between fibromyalgia and the nociceptive flexion reflex, we did not find any study evaluating the relationship of nociceptive flexion reflex with mastalgia (30,31). Furthermore, only a few studies have evaluated the relationship between fibromyalgia and CSP, and we found no study investigating the relationship between mastalgia and CSP (25)(26)(27).…”

“…In their study including 50 patients with mastalgia and 50 with fibromyalgia, Genc et al (31) reported that 36% of mastalgia patients met fibromyalgia criteria, and 42% of fibromyalgia patients had mastalgia complaints. In another study by Sen et al (30), 47.2% of 53 patients with fibromyalgia had mastalgia and 37.7% of 61 patients with mastalgia met the diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia syndrome (30).…”

“…Fibromyalgia and mastalgia share many similar features. For example, both are more prevalent in the female population, both are believed to develop due to stress, and both include clinical similarities (30,32). In their study including 50 patients with mastalgia and 50 with fibromyalgia, Genc et al (31) reported that 36% of mastalgia patients met fibromyalgia criteria, and 42% of fibromyalgia patients had mastalgia complaints.…”

Is it mastalgia or myofascial pain? A clinical confusion

“…[ 6 , 7 ] Musculoskeletal components that are beneath the breast may have disorders mimicking and/or confused with mastalgia. [ 8 , 9 ] Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) may be a possible reason of mastalgia for patients without primary breast disorder. To our knowledge, there is no study in the literature regarding the relationship between MPS and mastalgia.…”

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Breast Pain

“…This type of pain is not associated with malignancy [8]. Benign causes of breast pain are numerous and include hormonal variations, larger cup size, ill-fitting or unsupportive bra, lower levels of fitness or activity, fibromyalgia, cysts, periductal mastitis, stretching of Cooper ligaments, fat necrosis, surgery, Mondor disease, diabetic mastopathy, duct ectasia, musculoskeletal disease, referred nerve root pain from degenerative spinal changes, herpes zoster, heart disease, biliary pain, and peptic ulcer [3,5,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26].…”