Breast Fibroadenoma

Common benign neoplasm

Most frequent in young women

Occurs somewhat more frequently and at an earlier age in black women

Multiple fibroadenomas in 10–15% of affected patients

Round or ovoid, rubbery, discrete, relatively mobile, nontender mass, 1–5 cm in diameter

Usually discovered accidentally

Rarely occurs after menopause unless patient is receiving hormone replacement therapy

Breast ultrasonography useful in differentiating cystic from solid mass

Needle biopsy or fine-needle aspiration generally adequate for diagnosis

Excision with pathologic examination if diagnosis remains uncertain

Presumed fibroadenomas > 3 cm or 4 cm should be excised to rule out phyllodes tumors

Differential diagnosis

• Fibrocystic disease or cyst

• Breast cancer

• Lipoma

• Phyllodes tumor

• Breast abscess

• Intraductal papilloma

• Fat necrosis

No treatment is necessary if the diagnosis can be made by core needle biopsy

Excision with pathologic examination is performed if the diagnosis is uncertain

Cryoablation

• Appears to be safe if the lesion is a biopsy-proven fibroadenoma prior to ablation

• Not appropriate for all fibroadenomas because some are too large to freeze or the diagnosis may not be certain