Numerous endocrine disorders may cause benign
breast diseases, such as increased oestrogen and
prolactin, decreased
progesterone. The antigonadotropic effects of
Danazol counteract these hormonal changes. It has been used for a few years in the treatment of benign
breast diseases at a dosage of 200-800 mg daily. Treatment of benign
breast cysts represents a special problem--after
puncture fluid builds up again very often after a short while. In a randomized study we demonstrate the positive effects of
Danazol, such as reduction of
cyst diameter and prevention of recurrence after
puncture.
Cysts with a diameter of more than 20 mm were punctured. The test group was treated with 400 mg
Danazol daily; the control group was treated conventionally with
prolactin antagonist and
progesterone We treated 26 patients with
Danazol over a 3 months period. In the control group we observed more recurrences after
puncture than in the
Danazol group.
Danazol also proved effective in the reduction of
cyst diameter in women with
cysts under 20 mm in diameter which had not been punctured. Tolerance of
Danazol was good; side effects were cycle irregularities and
weight gain.