Fibroadenoma  

Fibroadenoma  

Fibroadenoma is a noncancerous, or benign, breast tumor. It is a solid breast lump that often occurs between ages 15 and 35. However, it can be found in anyone within a child-bearing age. 

Fibroadenomas are one of the most common breast lumps in young women. In most cases, without any form of therapy, they can shrink and disappear, although in rare cases they can be removed through surgery. 

Types of Fibroadenoma 

• Simple fibroadenomas: This type has the same appearance everywhere when viewed under a microscope. 

• Complex fibroadenomas: These are larger and more likely to affect elderly women. They could have cells that multiply quickly. 
• Giant fibroadenomas: They are normally big since they can grow to larger than 2 inches. If they encroach onto or take the place of other tissue, they might need to be removed. 
• Juvenile fibroadenomas: These breast lumps are the most typical types found in girls and adolescents between ages 10 and 18. They can get big, but they often grow smaller with time. Some disappear. 

Causes of Fibroadenomas 

It is not yet fully known the exact cause of fibroadenoma, but research shows that the causes might be related to hormonal changes that control a woman’s menstruation periods. 

Signs and Symptoms of Fibroadenoma 

A fibroadenoma usually does not present any pain. However, the following attributes are associated to it: 

• It is circular with clear, smooth boundaries 
• Movable 
• Firm or rubbery 

Diagnosis of Fibroadenoma 

It is highly recommended that if you find a lump in your breast, to see a doctor as it’s difficult to tell what it is by how it feels.  

At the doctor’s office, he/she will probably feel the breast lump and determine its size and texture. Even if the doctor suspects it could be a fibroadenoma, he/she will recommend more tests to confirm the diagnosis. 

These include: 

Mammogram: This is done through an X-ray, which produces internal pictures of the breast, and is dependent on the patient’s age and whether one is pregnant. A radiologist will afterwards confirm from the images if it’s a fibroadenoma or something different. 

Ultrasound: This is an imaging test that uses high-frequency sound waves to take internal pictures of breast tissue. 

Fine Needle Biopsy: If a lump is confirmed, a biopsy may be recommended. During this procedure a thin needle is connected to a syringe and inserted into the lump to remove a sample of tissue or fluid from the lump and sent to the lab for further examination under a microscope. This is the most effective way to confirm a fibroadenoma  

Treatment of Fibroadenoma 

In most cases, treatment of fibroadenomas may not be necessary. If the fibroadenoma is small, the doctor might advise waiting to see if the lump grows or shrinks rather than immediately attempting to remove it. 

Also, in the event that one gets a fibroadenoma while pregnant or while breastfeeding, the doctor will have to wait until the hormone levels normalize to see if the lump disappears. 

The doctor may also postpone removing any new lumps if the patient had more than one fibroadenoma removed in the past. If the fibroadenoma gets larger and the doctor is unsure if a lump is fibroadenoma or not, he/she will probably advise removing any lumps.