Papilloma, and in the common people a wart is a growth of a benign character, painless, size usually does not exceed 10 mm in diameter. Neoplasms are solitary, but, as a rule, after the appearance of the first growth, there is an increase in the number of papillomas in one area of the body. Multiple lesions are called papillomatosis.
Localization – the skin, mucous membranes. Often, warts appear on the chest, in the nipple area or under the breast. Moreover, their education does not depend on gender (although a woman is more susceptible to the development of papillomatosis on the chest than a man) and age criteria.
Causes of growths
The only reason for the formation of warts on the body is HPV – the human papillomavirus. According to statistics, infection carriers are more than 70% of the population, but not everyone has skin growths.
It is transmitted to HPV in several ways:
- Close contact with a sick person (usually as a result of unprotected sexual relations, but even the condom is not able to give 100% guarantee, because viral cells are present in saliva, urine, semen, which allows them to easily enter the body of healthy people, even with the usual kiss);
- When using personal hygiene products of infected people (on various surfaces, the virus is able to maintain its activity for up to 3 hours);
- From an infected mother to a child, laryngeal papillomatosis may develop during the passage through the birth canal in babies.
Important!
HPV can be picked up in public places such as sauna, bath, swimming pool, water park. Do not forget about the means of protection – take with yourself replaceable rubber shoes, use only personal towels, in no case sit on any surfaces without underwear, immediately treat the skin lesions with an antiseptic.
After HPV has entered the body, it is already impossible to get rid of it completely – it is a chronic, periodically recurring disease. In people with strong immunity, warts under the breast or in other parts of the body may not appear for decades – their bodies can suppress the activity of the virus.
See also: Wart on the head in the hair. Effective treatments
People with weakened immune defenses may experience external manifestations of HPV several times a year. Contributing to growths in the chest, the following adverse factors (of course, against the background of reduced immunity):
- Failure to fully hygiene;
- Excessive sweating;
- Wearing underwear strongly compressing the chest;
- Injuries to the skin, nipple, mammary glands (this may be a crack, rubbed sore and other physical effects);
- Age-related changes, hormonal imbalance.
The incubation period after infection lasts several weeks or months, then characteristic tumors appear.
Types and localization growths
The rib cage, like any other part of the body, is prone to wart formation. The following types of neoplasms may appear on this site:
- Threadlikeor hanging papilloma is a small, rather soft-to-the-touch tumor. Dimensions rarely exceed 5 mm. Most often these warts are localized under the mammary glands, can spread to the axillary hollows. Active growth is observed in menopause, during pregnancy, in the presence of excess weight;
- Keratomasor senile warts – the appearance of tumors is not associated with HPV. Develop in people of the older age group (after 45 years). A scaling may be flat or somewhat elevated above the skin level, the shape is rounded, the size sometimes reaches 5 cm. They can appear anywhere, but most often on the upper part of the body;
- Flatwarts on the chest – occur in adolescence. Their size is not more than 5 mm. The shape is round. The buildup protrudes slightly above the skin surface, the color of the skin sometimes with a yellowish tinge. Localization – face, neck, shoulders, sternum. Their appearance is associated with puberty, but when the teenager’s hormonal levels stabilize, the warts disappear (on their own).
Forms – distinguish external (located exclusively on the surface of the skin, nipple) and intraductal neoplasms (localized in the ducts of the breast, this epithelial growth is called cystadenoma).
See also: Warts on the fingers. How to get rid of them?
The clinical picture of the disease
Detect signs of external warts is easy:
- They are clearly visible, as they protrude above the skin surface;
- On palpation, you can feel the soft structure of the tumor;
- The color can vary from skin tones to dark brown tones;
- External papilloma is painless, but as a result of the injury can bleed, cause discomfort;
- The accidents are single and multiple;
- They are prone to fusion and the formation of a single conglomerate (warty site).
Localized external wart on the nipple, under and above the breast, can disseminate the entire mammary gland, located in the area of the halo.
Independently diagnosing the intraductal papiloma is rather problematic, it is located in the subcutaneous space inside the breast duct. If you palpate the breast, you can only find the tumor when it is localized in the main (main) duct – a small rounded seal will be felt under the fingers, when pressed, fluid is released from the nipple.
In addition, intraductal papillomas are accompanied by burning, slight tingling, increased sensitivity and discharge from the nipple.
Important!
If you feel the same symptoms, do not hesitate to consult a doctor – delay can cost you your life.
What is the danger
Human papillomavirus infection with the bloodstream quickly spreads through the body, which is fraught with multiple contamination – papillomatosis.
In addition, pathological neoplasm causes discomfort in everyday life – spoils the aesthetic appearance. It is also easily injured by clothing or in the process of hygienic procedures – bleeding occurs, the accession of a secondary infection with all the ensuing consequences (inflammation, suppuration, others) is possible.
The greatest danger that lies in ordinary warts is the risk of the transformation of a benign growth into a malignant tumor.
Important!
Before breeding a neoplasm, it is necessary to determine the type of pathogen, since some HPV strains initially have a high degree of carcinogenicity. In addition, degeneration into cancer can occur as a result of ordinary trauma or inadequate treatment, keep this in mind.
In case of characteristic growths in the chest, immediately contact a doctor, breast specialist or oncologist.
See also: Warts on the legs: treatment at home and folk remedies
Diagnostics
After a visual inspection, you are likely to be assigned the following studies:
- Breast x-ray (mammography);
- Ultrasound – will show the location and size of the intraductal wart;
- PCR – identifies the type and proportion of the pathogen;
- Microscopy and cultural studies of pathological discharge from the nipples;
- Galactography and ductography – to determine the exact location, size and contour of the tumor (the most informative methods).
Having defined the diagnosis, the doctor prescribes treatment, it consists in removing the growth, as well as subsequent immunological therapy.
Therapeutic activities
To remove a viral neoplasm in the chest, as well as other parts of the body, the following methods are used:
- Laser excision – under the action of a laser beam, the build-up dries out and dies off, leaving no traces behind;
- Radio wave destruction – contactless exposure of a radio knife allows you to burn a tumor without a trace;
- Cryotherapy – external papillomas are treated with liquid nitrogen, after which they freeze and die;
- Electrocoagulation – a wart is burned with high-frequency current. The method is effective, but can leave traces;
- Excision with a scalpel – carried out with intraductal lesion (perform sectoral resection);
- Keratolytic drugs – used on external papillomas, if surgery is contraindicated. For example, during pregnancy;
- Necrotizing drugs are aggressive substances that burn out a build-up after application.
After the removal procedure, immunostimulating therapy is prescribed – candles, pills, interferon-containing solutions, as well as vitamin complex intake.
It is not recommended to engage in self-treatment, all procedures are best carried out in a medical institution.
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