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A breast hematoma can be described as a blood-filled swelling or a collection of blood that occurs within the breast tissue because of a trauma to the breast area. This swelling is usually benign, i.e., it is not cancerous, but it can lead to other problems like pain, inflammation, skin discoloration, fever and formation of a scar. Any woman can develop a hematoma in the breast; however, this problem is a lot more common in women between the ages of 30 and 50, regardless of their menopausal stages. If you have a breast hematoma, you will probably be able to see and feel it. This blood clot in the breast is usually visible in a mammogram.

Causes

Many women worry that a hematoma could be an indication of a breast cancer; however, there is no truth to this premise as these swellings are not related to breast cancer in any way.

There are several factors that could cause you to develop a hematoma in your breast, the most common one being direct trauma caused by an accident. Some of the other possible causes of breast hematoma could include:

• Breaking of a weakened blood vessel in response to a jolt or a bump.
• Long term usage of aspirin or other blood thinners.
• Therapeutic breast surgery.
• Post operative bleeding after a breast implant surgery.
• Core needle breast biopsy (in rare instances)

Because of the arrangement and positioning of the breast tissues, women are at a higher risk of developing hematomas in the breast as compared to the other parts of the body.

Some of the causes of breast hematoma are more serious than the others and need to be addressed by a doctor as early as possible.

Symptoms

There are several signs and symptoms that you may notice in case you develop a hematoma in your breast. Some of the common signs of breast hematoma include –

• Swelling or enlarged lymph nodes in the breast
• Discoloration, where the skin becomes red, purplish or blackish-blue
• Pain and tenderness to the touch
• Breeched skin
• Bruising on the top of the skin
• Fever
• Inflammation

Women often mistake breast hematomas for tumors, since the symptoms of the two can be quite similar. However, unlike tumors, most hematomas in the breast are quite small, i.e., around the size of a rice grain. Such small hematomas aren’t usually detected and they disappear on their own, without any treatments. However, in some instances a breast hematoma can be as big as the size of a plum. These larger hematomas can be seen and felt; they also generally show up in tests like a mammography.

Apart from a mammography, your doctor may also ask you to undergo a few tests, in order to diagnose a hematoma accurately. These tests include a breast ultrasound scan or a biopsy.

Treatment

The treatment path recommended for breast hematoma may vary, depending on factors like the size, cause and location. The smaller blood clots usually disappear on their own, without any treatment, but the larger ones may need to be removed surgically.

You could speed up the treatment of a breast hematoma using a few natural home remedies. Given below are a few simple steps that you can try at home:

• Cold Therapy: Applying an ice pack to any part of the body helps in bringing down the swelling almost immediately; the sooner you apply ice on to a hematoma, the faster it is likely to heal. Place a few ice cubes in a plastic bag and apply it directly on to the hematoma. Let the cold ice stay on the swollen area for at least 15 to 20 minutes. For best results, practice this exercise around 3 to 4 times each day.
• Heat Therapy: Place a heating pad, a hot water bottle or a warm towel on to the affected part of the breast. This helps bring the swelling down and speeds up the recovery process. However, make sure that the heat is applied on to the hematoma for no more than 20 minutes a day. Prolonged exposure to heat can worsen the swelling and discomfort.
• Compression: Wrap the affected area lightly in a soft, compression bandage. You could also look out for clothes that keep the area compressed.
• Elevation: While resting or lying down, use a reclining position, so that your torso is above your limbs. This causes the blood to flow away from the wounded area, thereby reducing the swelling.

Unfortunately, it is possible for a hematoma to recur spontaneously, in spite of disappearing completely. While undergoing treatment, your doctor may ask you to stop taking any aspirin to relieve pain along with any other blood thinning medication.

While these remedies are quite safe if used correctly, do check with your doctor before trying any of them. It is also important to ensure that a hematoma in the breast or any other part of the body is checked, treated and monitored by a doctor.

References

1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22373988