Diseases of the Breast during Pregnancy and Lactation

Symptoms of the breast in gravid women commonly represent physiological changes, however they may also be related to serious underlying breast disease; this challenging dilemma is aggravated by diagnostic and therapeutic limitations imposed by safety issues regarding the mother and fetus. A comprehensive coverage of all aspects of normal and pathologic breast changes during pregnancy and lactation, their diagnosis and management is provided in the present work. The organized structure of this book begins with gestational changes of the breast, while discussing safety, hazards, and arguments regarding diagnostic approaches. It then goes on by describing various clinical presentations and common and uncommon benign disorders during gravidity. The book then addresses pre-malignant lesions of the breast, opening the dialogue on how to manage these confusing lesions in pregnant and nursing women. It continues toward pregnancy-associated breast cancer, focusing on every facet of the problem, including epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and complications, anesthetic considerations, prenatal care, and rare malignancies; and comes to an end by arguing main psychological concerns. In the midst of this orderly sequence fertility issues, pregnancy, and breastfeeding in women who have overcome their breast cancer are also discussed. This unique reference has been written by academic experts from different centers and diverse disciplines in a practical format. It is intended to be an ideal resource for every practitioner and specialist who manages complaints of gravid and nursing women or treats breast disorders in women of child bearing age.