Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Breast oil cysts arebenign(noncancerous) breast lumps. They often feel similar to the lumps common to breast cancer. They may be diagnosed on ultrasound or other breast imaging. Oil cysts in the breast commonly occur due to injury to the chest or medical procedures.
Cystsare the most commonly found type of breast mass, especially for those aged 35 to 50.Cysts are pockets filled with fluid, pus, air, or other substances.They have an outer wall or barrier that keeps the inside contents of the cyst inside the sac.
Breast oil cysts are filled with an oil-like fluid that results from the breakdown of the fat cells of the breast. They often feel soft and squishy. They typically don’t require treatment.
Ian Hootan / Getty Images
This article discusses the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of breast oil cysts.
What Do Breast Cancer Lumps Feel Like?
When breast oil cysts are small, they often go unnoticed. As a cyst gets larger, it may be found during aself-breast exam. Sometimes cysts are found when they are seen on a mammogram or other imaging tests.
Some breast cysts can grow larger over time. Bigger cysts can be felt on a breast exam as soft, squishy, and smooth lumps.They can be painful or painless. If they occur after surgery or trauma, there may also be bruising associated with the cyst.
Identifying Cysts Through Pictures
Breast oil cysts may occur after breast surgery, along with other breast conditions, or can occur spontaneously. They are called oil cysts because they contain a liquid form of body fat.
How They Develop
During alumpectomyormastectomy, there can be damage to the fat cells of the breast. As the fat cells break down (breast fat necrosis), their structure changes. The damaged fat cells can form into hard scar tissue or an oily liquid.
Damage to the fat cells of the breast can cause two different conditions:Fat necrosis: The damaged fat cells are replaced with fibrous scar tissueOil cysts: The damaged fat cells break down and leak their oily contents into a walled-off pocket causing a cyst
Damage to the fat cells of the breast can cause two different conditions:
Risk Factors
Oil cysts often develop after breast surgery. They can also occur after a breast biopsy or cancer removal (mastectomy). Because they may appear during cancer diagnosis and treatment, some people are alarmed to learn that they have one.
Conditions in which fat necrosis and oil cysts may occurinclude:
After breast augmentation surgery, oil cysts are more common whenautologous fat grafting(fat taken from another region of the body and placed in the breast) is used.
In males, most breast oil cysts are associated with trauma.
If you have noticed a lump in your breast, your doctor will likely recommend further testing. Your treatment team will help determine if additional imaging is required or if a breast biopsy should be performed.Mammogram,ultrasound, andbreast MRI(magnetic resonance imaging) are all potential tests your team may recommend.
Mammogram
An oil cyst often shows up on a mammogram as a well-defined mass that appears fatty, and eggshell calcifications may be present.The calcifications of an oil cyst are different than the type ofbreast calcificationsthat tend to be associated with breast cancer.
Breast Ultrasound
A breast ultrasound often gives a clearer picture of oil cysts than a mammogram.Ultrasounds use sound waves bounced off of breast tissues to create an image of masses, lumps, and cysts.
Cysts are filled with fluid, gas, or semisolid substances. This causes them to appear on ultrasound as dark, smooth-edged circular or oval areas. The cysts have a clear outline that distinguishes them from surrounding tissues.
Aseroma(fluid-filled cyst) can appear identical to an oil cyst on ultrasound. However, othertypes of breast lumpswill typically appear on ultrasound with different characteristics.This difference in appearance helps the provider to determine what structures are within the breast.
Breast MRI
At times, benign breast lumps can look very similar to cancer on imaging tests. The radiologist will compare any concerning areas to the surrounding tissue to help determine if further testing is needed.
Generally,breast MRIis used for diagnosis and staging of breast cancer, rather than as a screening tool. However, your provider may recommend it to get the very detailed internal pictures that MRI can produce. Oil cysts will show up on a breast MRI but are best diagnosed using breast ultrasound.
Differential Diagnosis
Conditions that may appear similar to a breast oil cyst include:
Very rarely, breast oil cysts can have a similar appearance to a tumor that is breaking down (medically called necrotizing malignancy). The cell death and inflammation may look similar to an oil cyst on some imaging.
Treatment Options
Breast oil cysts are benign—they are not cancerous. They do not causebreast canceror increase your risk of developing breast cancer. Therefore, an oil cyst may be left alone. This is often called “watchful waiting.” Many times, these will shrink or go away on their own without treatment.
If it appears that you have developed a cyst after a procedure to treat or remove cancer (such as a lumpectomy), it will be important for your provider to determine what the lump might be. Your team will work to distinguish an oil cyst from a possible cancer recurrence.
There are several treatment options if you are diagnosed with a breast oil cyst:
Summary
Breast oil cysts are commonbenign breast conditions. They most often develop after trauma or damage to the breast. Cysts may be seen on a mammogram, breast ultrasound, or MRI. Breast oil cysts can usually be left alone. The fluid can be aspirated for removal and to confirm the diagnosis. If a cyst is large, painful, or if the diagnosis is in doubt, surgery may be done to completely remove it.
A Word From Verywell
Breast oil cysts are benign, yet since they often show up after breast surgery, they can cause a lot of anxiety. While treatment is not usually needed, many women and men who develop breast oil cysts feel more comfortable with aspiration. With aspiration, the oil cysts usually deflate—both resolving the cyst and the anxiety that can accompany having them.
Frequently Asked QuestionsNo, an oil cyst and fat necrosis are different although they both occur when fat cells in the breast are damaged. An oil cyst develops when the contents of the fat cells break down into an oily substance that collects inside a small pocket. Fat necrosis results when thick, fibrous scar tissue replaces the damaged fat cells.Breast cysts can grow at varying rates, so your experience will be unique. Some breast oil cysts never grow enough to be felt during a breast exam. Other times, the growth of an oil cyst can be painful and your provider may recommend having it removed.Oil cysts are typically harmless. They sometimes go away on their ownbut this can take months to years. If your cyst is bothering you, your provider may be able to drain it or surgically remove it.If you are interested in trying evening primrose oil for reducing your breast oil cysts, talk with your provider. There is no strong scientific evidence that this is an effective remedy. Your provider should discuss all of your medications and supplements with you to reduce the risk of side effects and interactions.
No, an oil cyst and fat necrosis are different although they both occur when fat cells in the breast are damaged. An oil cyst develops when the contents of the fat cells break down into an oily substance that collects inside a small pocket. Fat necrosis results when thick, fibrous scar tissue replaces the damaged fat cells.
Breast cysts can grow at varying rates, so your experience will be unique. Some breast oil cysts never grow enough to be felt during a breast exam. Other times, the growth of an oil cyst can be painful and your provider may recommend having it removed.
Oil cysts are typically harmless. They sometimes go away on their ownbut this can take months to years. If your cyst is bothering you, your provider may be able to drain it or surgically remove it.
If you are interested in trying evening primrose oil for reducing your breast oil cysts, talk with your provider. There is no strong scientific evidence that this is an effective remedy. Your provider should discuss all of your medications and supplements with you to reduce the risk of side effects and interactions.
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Berg WA, Sechtin AG, Marques H, Zhang Z.Cystic breast masses and the ACRIN 6666 experience.Radiol Clin North Am. 2010;48(5):931–987. doi:10.1016/j.rcl.2010.06.007National Cancer Institute.Cyst.Tassinari J, Sisti A, Zerini I, Idone F, Nisi G.Oil cysts after breast augmentation with autologous fat grafting.Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016;137(1):244e-245e. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000001914Tse GM, Tan PH, Pang AL, Tang AP, Cheung HS.Calcification in breast lesions: pathologists' perspective.J Clin Pathol. 2008;61(2):145-51. doi:10.1136/jcp.2006.046201Vachhani PG, Shah A, Fabrega-Foster K, Harvey S.Cysts with masses and masses with cysts: An imaging review of cystic breast masses.Appl Radiol.2017;46(10):8-18.Vasei N, Shishegar A, Ghalkhani F, Darvishi M.Fat necrosis in the breast: A systematic review of clinical[published correction appears in Lipids Health Dis. 2019 Aug 1;18(1):158].Lipids Health Dis. 2019;18(1):139. Published 2019 Jun 11. doi:10.1186/s12944-019-1078-4Landau MJ, Birnbaum ZE, Kurtz LG, Aronowitz JA.Review: Proposed Methods to Improve the Survival of Adipose Tissue in Autologous Fat Grafting.Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2018;6(8):e1870. Published 2018 Aug 3. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000001870Radiopaedia.org.Oil cyst (breast).Upadhyaya VS, Uppoor R, Shetty L.Mammographic and sonographic features of fat necrosis of the breast.Indian J Radiol Imaging. 2013;23(4):366–372. doi:10.4103/0971-3026.125619Harvey JA, Moran RE, Maurer EJ, Deangelis GA.Sonographic features of mammary oil cysts.J Ultrasound Med. 1997;16(11):719-24. doi:10.7863/jum.1997.16.11.719Masciadri N, Ferranti C.Benign breast lesions: Ultrasound.J Ultrasound. 2011;14(2):55–65. doi:10.1016/j.jus.2011.03.002Kilic F, Ogul H, Bayraktutan U, et al.Diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging of the breast.Eurasian J Med. 2012;44(2):106–114. doi:10.5152/eajm.2012.24Hines N, Slanetz PJ, Eisenberg RL.Cystic masses of the breast.American Journal of Roentgenology. 2010;194(2):W122-W133. doi:10.2214/AJR.09.3688Shida M, Chiba A, Ohashi M, Yamakawa M.Ultrasound diagnosis and treatment of breast lumps after breast augmentation with autologous fat grafting.Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2017;5(12):e1603. Published 2017 Dec 1. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000001603American Cancer Society.Fat necrosis and oil cysts in the breast.Harvard Medical School.Cysts (overview): What is it?Additional ReadingHarrison B, Dillon D, Richardson A, Brock J, Guidi A, Lester S.Quality assurance in breast pathology: Lessons learned from a review of amended reports.Archives of Pathology and Lab Medicine. 2017;141(2):260-266.Tassinari J, Sisti A, Zerini I, Idone F, Nisi G.Oil cysts after breast augmentation with autologous fat grafting.Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2016;137(1):244e245e.
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Berg WA, Sechtin AG, Marques H, Zhang Z.Cystic breast masses and the ACRIN 6666 experience.Radiol Clin North Am. 2010;48(5):931–987. doi:10.1016/j.rcl.2010.06.007National Cancer Institute.Cyst.Tassinari J, Sisti A, Zerini I, Idone F, Nisi G.Oil cysts after breast augmentation with autologous fat grafting.Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016;137(1):244e-245e. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000001914Tse GM, Tan PH, Pang AL, Tang AP, Cheung HS.Calcification in breast lesions: pathologists' perspective.J Clin Pathol. 2008;61(2):145-51. doi:10.1136/jcp.2006.046201Vachhani PG, Shah A, Fabrega-Foster K, Harvey S.Cysts with masses and masses with cysts: An imaging review of cystic breast masses.Appl Radiol.2017;46(10):8-18.Vasei N, Shishegar A, Ghalkhani F, Darvishi M.Fat necrosis in the breast: A systematic review of clinical[published correction appears in Lipids Health Dis. 2019 Aug 1;18(1):158].Lipids Health Dis. 2019;18(1):139. Published 2019 Jun 11. doi:10.1186/s12944-019-1078-4Landau MJ, Birnbaum ZE, Kurtz LG, Aronowitz JA.Review: Proposed Methods to Improve the Survival of Adipose Tissue in Autologous Fat Grafting.Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2018;6(8):e1870. Published 2018 Aug 3. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000001870Radiopaedia.org.Oil cyst (breast).Upadhyaya VS, Uppoor R, Shetty L.Mammographic and sonographic features of fat necrosis of the breast.Indian J Radiol Imaging. 2013;23(4):366–372. doi:10.4103/0971-3026.125619Harvey JA, Moran RE, Maurer EJ, Deangelis GA.Sonographic features of mammary oil cysts.J Ultrasound Med. 1997;16(11):719-24. doi:10.7863/jum.1997.16.11.719Masciadri N, Ferranti C.Benign breast lesions: Ultrasound.J Ultrasound. 2011;14(2):55–65. doi:10.1016/j.jus.2011.03.002Kilic F, Ogul H, Bayraktutan U, et al.Diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging of the breast.Eurasian J Med. 2012;44(2):106–114. doi:10.5152/eajm.2012.24Hines N, Slanetz PJ, Eisenberg RL.Cystic masses of the breast.American Journal of Roentgenology. 2010;194(2):W122-W133. doi:10.2214/AJR.09.3688Shida M, Chiba A, Ohashi M, Yamakawa M.Ultrasound diagnosis and treatment of breast lumps after breast augmentation with autologous fat grafting.Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2017;5(12):e1603. Published 2017 Dec 1. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000001603American Cancer Society.Fat necrosis and oil cysts in the breast.Harvard Medical School.Cysts (overview): What is it?Additional ReadingHarrison B, Dillon D, Richardson A, Brock J, Guidi A, Lester S.Quality assurance in breast pathology: Lessons learned from a review of amended reports.Archives of Pathology and Lab Medicine. 2017;141(2):260-266.Tassinari J, Sisti A, Zerini I, Idone F, Nisi G.Oil cysts after breast augmentation with autologous fat grafting.Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2016;137(1):244e245e.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Berg WA, Sechtin AG, Marques H, Zhang Z.Cystic breast masses and the ACRIN 6666 experience.Radiol Clin North Am. 2010;48(5):931–987. doi:10.1016/j.rcl.2010.06.007National Cancer Institute.Cyst.Tassinari J, Sisti A, Zerini I, Idone F, Nisi G.Oil cysts after breast augmentation with autologous fat grafting.Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016;137(1):244e-245e. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000001914Tse GM, Tan PH, Pang AL, Tang AP, Cheung HS.Calcification in breast lesions: pathologists' perspective.J Clin Pathol. 2008;61(2):145-51. doi:10.1136/jcp.2006.046201Vachhani PG, Shah A, Fabrega-Foster K, Harvey S.Cysts with masses and masses with cysts: An imaging review of cystic breast masses.Appl Radiol.2017;46(10):8-18.Vasei N, Shishegar A, Ghalkhani F, Darvishi M.Fat necrosis in the breast: A systematic review of clinical[published correction appears in Lipids Health Dis. 2019 Aug 1;18(1):158].Lipids Health Dis. 2019;18(1):139. Published 2019 Jun 11. doi:10.1186/s12944-019-1078-4Landau MJ, Birnbaum ZE, Kurtz LG, Aronowitz JA.Review: Proposed Methods to Improve the Survival of Adipose Tissue in Autologous Fat Grafting.Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2018;6(8):e1870. Published 2018 Aug 3. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000001870Radiopaedia.org.Oil cyst (breast).Upadhyaya VS, Uppoor R, Shetty L.Mammographic and sonographic features of fat necrosis of the breast.Indian J Radiol Imaging. 2013;23(4):366–372. doi:10.4103/0971-3026.125619Harvey JA, Moran RE, Maurer EJ, Deangelis GA.Sonographic features of mammary oil cysts.J Ultrasound Med. 1997;16(11):719-24. doi:10.7863/jum.1997.16.11.719Masciadri N, Ferranti C.Benign breast lesions: Ultrasound.J Ultrasound. 2011;14(2):55–65. doi:10.1016/j.jus.2011.03.002Kilic F, Ogul H, Bayraktutan U, et al.Diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging of the breast.Eurasian J Med. 2012;44(2):106–114. doi:10.5152/eajm.2012.24Hines N, Slanetz PJ, Eisenberg RL.Cystic masses of the breast.American Journal of Roentgenology. 2010;194(2):W122-W133. doi:10.2214/AJR.09.3688Shida M, Chiba A, Ohashi M, Yamakawa M.Ultrasound diagnosis and treatment of breast lumps after breast augmentation with autologous fat grafting.Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2017;5(12):e1603. Published 2017 Dec 1. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000001603American Cancer Society.Fat necrosis and oil cysts in the breast.Harvard Medical School.Cysts (overview): What is it?
Berg WA, Sechtin AG, Marques H, Zhang Z.Cystic breast masses and the ACRIN 6666 experience.Radiol Clin North Am. 2010;48(5):931–987. doi:10.1016/j.rcl.2010.06.007
National Cancer Institute.Cyst.
Tassinari J, Sisti A, Zerini I, Idone F, Nisi G.Oil cysts after breast augmentation with autologous fat grafting.Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016;137(1):244e-245e. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000001914
Tse GM, Tan PH, Pang AL, Tang AP, Cheung HS.Calcification in breast lesions: pathologists' perspective.J Clin Pathol. 2008;61(2):145-51. doi:10.1136/jcp.2006.046201
Vachhani PG, Shah A, Fabrega-Foster K, Harvey S.Cysts with masses and masses with cysts: An imaging review of cystic breast masses.Appl Radiol.2017;46(10):8-18.
Vasei N, Shishegar A, Ghalkhani F, Darvishi M.Fat necrosis in the breast: A systematic review of clinical[published correction appears in Lipids Health Dis. 2019 Aug 1;18(1):158].Lipids Health Dis. 2019;18(1):139. Published 2019 Jun 11. doi:10.1186/s12944-019-1078-4
Landau MJ, Birnbaum ZE, Kurtz LG, Aronowitz JA.Review: Proposed Methods to Improve the Survival of Adipose Tissue in Autologous Fat Grafting.Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2018;6(8):e1870. Published 2018 Aug 3. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000001870
Radiopaedia.org.Oil cyst (breast).
Upadhyaya VS, Uppoor R, Shetty L.Mammographic and sonographic features of fat necrosis of the breast.Indian J Radiol Imaging. 2013;23(4):366–372. doi:10.4103/0971-3026.125619
Harvey JA, Moran RE, Maurer EJ, Deangelis GA.Sonographic features of mammary oil cysts.J Ultrasound Med. 1997;16(11):719-24. doi:10.7863/jum.1997.16.11.719
Masciadri N, Ferranti C.Benign breast lesions: Ultrasound.J Ultrasound. 2011;14(2):55–65. doi:10.1016/j.jus.2011.03.002
Kilic F, Ogul H, Bayraktutan U, et al.Diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging of the breast.Eurasian J Med. 2012;44(2):106–114. doi:10.5152/eajm.2012.24
Hines N, Slanetz PJ, Eisenberg RL.Cystic masses of the breast.American Journal of Roentgenology. 2010;194(2):W122-W133. doi:10.2214/AJR.09.3688
Shida M, Chiba A, Ohashi M, Yamakawa M.Ultrasound diagnosis and treatment of breast lumps after breast augmentation with autologous fat grafting.Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2017;5(12):e1603. Published 2017 Dec 1. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000001603
American Cancer Society.Fat necrosis and oil cysts in the breast.
Harvard Medical School.Cysts (overview): What is it?
Harrison B, Dillon D, Richardson A, Brock J, Guidi A, Lester S.Quality assurance in breast pathology: Lessons learned from a review of amended reports.Archives of Pathology and Lab Medicine. 2017;141(2):260-266.Tassinari J, Sisti A, Zerini I, Idone F, Nisi G.Oil cysts after breast augmentation with autologous fat grafting.Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2016;137(1):244e245e.
Harrison B, Dillon D, Richardson A, Brock J, Guidi A, Lester S.Quality assurance in breast pathology: Lessons learned from a review of amended reports.Archives of Pathology and Lab Medicine. 2017;141(2):260-266.
Tassinari J, Sisti A, Zerini I, Idone F, Nisi G.Oil cysts after breast augmentation with autologous fat grafting.Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2016;137(1):244e245e.
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