Description

A fibroadenoma (fy-broe-ad-uh-NO-muh) is a solid lump in the breast. This breast lump is not cancer. A fibroadenoma occurs most frequently between the ages of 15 and 35 years. But it can be found in any age, in any person who has periods.

A fibroadenoma often does not cause pain. You may feel firm, smooth and rubbery. It has a round shape. It can feel like a pea in the chest. Or you may feel flat like a coin. When touched, it moves easily in the breast tissue.

Fibroadenomas are common tumors of the breast. If you have a fibroadenoma, your health care provider may tell you to be attentive to the changes in size or feel. You may need a biopsy to check for the bulge or the surgery to remove it. Many of the fibroadenomas do not need additional treatment.

Symptoms

A fibroadenoma is a solid lump in the breast, which often does not cause pain. Is:

  • Round with distinct, smooth edges
  • Move easily
  • Company or rubber

A fibroadenoma often grows slowly. The average size is around 1 inch (2.5 centimeters). A fibroadenoma can grow with the time. May be tender or cause pain for a couple of days before your period. A large fibroadenoma may be sore to the touch. But most of the times, this type of lump in the breast, it does not cause pain.

You can have a single fibroadenoma or more of a fibroadenoma. May occur in one or both breasts.

Some of the fibroadenomas shrinks with time. The majority of fibroadenomas in adolescents shrink over many months to a few years. Then disappear. Fibroadenomas can also change shape with time.

Fibroadenomas can grow during pregnancy. Can be reduced after menopause.

When to see a doctor

Healthy breast tissue often feel lumps. Make an appointment with your health care provider if:

  • Find a new lump in the breast
  • Notice other changes in your breasts
  • Find a breast lump had been proved in the past has grown or changed in any way

Causes

The cause of fibroadenomas is not known. That could be related to the hormones that control your periods.

The less common types of fibroadenomas and related tumors of the breast may not act the same as a typical fibroadenomas. These types of tumors of the breast include:

  • The complex fibroadenomas. These are the fibroadenomas that can grow with the time. They can press or to move the breast tissue near you.
  • Giant fibroadenomas. Giant fibroadenomas grow rapidly to more than 2 inches (5 centimeters). You can also press on the breast tissue close or push it out of place.
  • Phyllodes Tumors. Phyllodes tumors and fibroadenomas are made of similar fabrics. But under a microscope, phyllodes tumors with a different aspect of the fibroadenomas. Phyllodes tumors tend to have characteristics associated with the most rapid growth. Most phyllodes tumors are benign. This means they are not cancer. But some phyllodes tumors may be cancer. Or could turn into cancer. Phyllodes tumors often don't cause any pain.

Complications

Common fibroadenomas do not affect your risk of breast cancer. But your risk may go up a little if you have a complex fibroadenoma or phyllodes tumor.

Diagnosis

You can be the first warning of a fibroadenoma when you bathe or shower. Or you may notice that when you do a breast self-exam. Fibroadenomas can also be found during a regular medical examination, mammogram, or ultrasound of the breast.

If you have a breast lump that can be felt, you may need certain tests or procedures. The evidence that you need depends on your age and the characteristics of the breast lump.

Imaging tests

Imaging tests give details about the size, shape, and other characteristics of a lump in the breast:

  • Breast ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of the inside of the breast. If you're under the age of 30 years, your doctor will probably make use of breast ultrasound, to check for a lump in the breast. The ultrasound clearly shows the size and shape of a fibroadenoma. This test can also show the difference between a solid lump in the breast, and a fluid-filled cyst. An ultrasound does not cause pain. Nothing should go inside your body for this test.
  • Mammography uses X-rays to create an image of the tissues of the breast. This image is called a mammogram. Detects the edges of a fibroadenoma and what distinguishes it from other tissues. But the mammogram might not be the best imaging test to use for fibroadenomas in younger people, who may have dense breast tissue. Dense tissue makes it more difficult to see the difference between the typical tissue of the breast and what could be a fibroadenoma. Also, due to the risk of radiation from mammograms, which are generally not used to check for breast tumors in people under 30 years of age.

Biopsy

If there are any questions about the type or nature of the pellet in the chest, you may need a test called a biopsy to check a sample of tissue. A common method of biopsy for a fibroadenoma is a core needle biopsy.

A doctor called a radiologist is usually performed a core needle biopsy. An ultrasound device to help the doctor guide the needle to the right place. A special hollow needle collects a small sample of tissue from the breast. A laboratory test of the sample can reveal what kind of tumor is present. A doctor called a pathologist examines the sample to see if it is a fibroadenoma or phyllodes tumor.

If the breast lump is growing rapidly, or cause pain or other problems, you may need to have all of the lump removed. This can also happen if the biopsy results are not clear. A surgeon will talk with you about your options.

Treatment

Often, fibroadenomas do not need treatment. But, in some cases, you may need surgery to remove a rapidly growing fibroadenoma.

When the treatment is not necessary

If the results of a test image and biopsy to demonstrate that your breast lump is a fibroadenoma, you may not need surgery to remove it.

When deciding about surgery, keep these things in mind:

  • The surgery can change the appearance of the breast.
  • Fibroadenomas, sometimes, reduce or disappear on their own.
  • Fibroadenomas can stay as they are, with no change.

If you decide not to have surgery, your doctor may tell you to follow-up visits to see the fibroadenoma. At these visits, you can have an ultrasound to detect changes in the shape or the size of the lump in the breast. In between visits, tell your doctor if you notice any changes in your breasts.

When you may need surgery

If the results of an imaging test, or biopsy are relative to your isp, you may need surgery. You may also need surgery if the fibroadenoma is large, grows quickly, or causes symptoms. Surgery is the standard treatment for giant fibroadenomas and phyllodes tumors.

Procedures to remove a fibroadenoma include:

  • Cut out. In this procedure, a surgeon uses a knife to remove all of the fibroadenoma. This is called the surgical excision.
  • Freezing. In this procedure, a small device shaped wand is inserted through the skin of the breast to the fibroadenoma. The device gets very cold and freezes the tissue. This destroys the fibroadenoma. This technique is not available in all medical centers.

After the treatment, other fibroadenomas can be formed. If you find a new lump in the breast, tell your health care provider. You may need tests with ultrasound, mammogram or a biopsy to see if the new breast lump is a fibroadenoma or other breast condition.

Preparing for your appointment

You may first see your health care provider for concerns about a lump in the breast. Or you can go to a doctor that specializes in diseases that affect the female reproductive system. This doctor is a gynecologist. Here is what you need to know to prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

When you make the appointment, ask if you need to do anything before you arrive. For example, you should stop taking any medicine if you need a biopsy. Make a list of:

  • Their symptoms, even those that do not appear to be related to your changes in the breast. Note when you began.
  • Key personal information, including your medical history and if you have a history of breast cancer in your family.
  • All medications, vitamins or other supplements that you take, including over-dose.
  • Questions to ask your health care provider.

For a fibroadenoma, basic questions such as:

  • What could this lump be?
  • What tests do I need? What I have to do anything special to prepare for them?
  • I need treatment?
  • Do you have brochures or other written materials about this topic? What websites do you suggest I use for more information?

Be sure to ask other questions as you think of them. If you can, bring a family member or friend along to your appointment. That person can help you remember the information they give you.

What to expect from your provider

Your health care provider is likely to ask a series of questions, such as:

  • When did you first notice the lump in your breast? Has your size changed?
  • Are there changes in the lump in the breast before or after your period?
  • Have you or other members of the family have had breast problems?
  • What is the date of your last period begin?
  • Is the lump in the breast is sensitive or painful?
  • Do you have a fluid leak from your nipple?
  • Have you ever had a mammogram? If so, when?
Symptoms and treatment of Fibroadenoma