Fibroadenoma

Fibroadenoma is a benign breast neoplasm that belongs to the group “non-proliferative” neoplasms. It can be diagnosed at any age but is most common in young patients (18-35). The exact reasons why fibroadenomas develop are not known, but it is obvious that they form as a result of failed regulation of local cell division in the breast tissue.  

Fibroadenomas may be more or less hormone-dependent which means they may change throughout the menstrual cycle or during pregnancy. These neoplasms may be simple, meaning they contain one type of tissue, or complex – made of different types of tissues that develop at different rates. Complex fibroadenomas have worse prognosis and thus are usually recommended to be removed. 

A few facts about this condition that you should know: 

• In most cases fibroadenoma does not cause painful sensations in the breasts, so the surgical removal does not always cure pain. A lot of factors can be the reason of pain and they require more detailed examination. 
• Fibroadenomas are most commonly diagnosed at breast self-examination or at the planned examination (ultrasound). On touch it feels like an oval, elastic, and mobile formation in the breast. Diagnosing a fibroadenoma is usually not difficult when qualified ultrasound examination is performed. 
• Factors that a doctor must consider during an examination: the size of the formation, age of a patient, radiological features (what does the formation look like on ultrasound, mammogram, or MRI), changes over time (does it increase in size or not), does the formation cause any complaints, and the family history of the patient (did the direct relatives have oncological diseases). Thus, fibroadenomas larger than 2.5 cm in the age of 35 years old or older are always suspicious and require additional diagnostics: ultrasound guided core-needle biopsy or surgical removal. 
• Most fibroadenomas do not require surgical removal, only observation. However, in case surgery is needed the doctor can almost always apply invisible incisions hiding them along the contour of the areola or in the submammary fold. Aesthetic aspects of this kind of interventions are very important.