A common noncancerous (benign) breast lump
Breastfibroadenomasare benign (noncancerous), painless breast lumps.
Often described as moveable, round, rubbery, and smooth, fibroadenomas affect one in four premenopausal people.
Fibroadenomas are often triggered by hormonal changes such as birth control pills or pregnancy.
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They are often first discovered during abreast self-examand diagnosed using imaging studies andbiopsy.
Most fibroadenomas shrink on their own over time.
Treatment is unnecessary unless they are large, fast-growing, or cause bothersome symptoms.
Fibroadenomas change in size during your menstrual cycle due to varying hormone levels.
A fibroadenoma may become more noticeable or shrink to the point where it is not easily detected.
What Are Breast Mice?
Fibroadenomas are sometimes referred to as breast mice.
They are so moveable they seem to run away from your fingers.
What Causes Fibroadenomas?
The exact cause of fibroadenomas is unknown.
They appear to seem influenced byestrogenbecause they occur most often in premenopausal people and shrink or disappear aftermenopause.
Mammogram
On a mammogram, fibroadenomas appear as round or oval smooth-edged masses.
The outline will be clearly defined, not blurry, and not invade the adjacent spaces.
Sometimes they are accompanied by coarsecalcifications(calcium deposits).
Fibroadenomas can look likecystsor well-containedtumors.
Ultrasound
Breast ultrasoundis used to evaluate breast lumps.
Fibroadenomas will appear as a dark area with a definite outline.
It will look homogeneous (the same throughout), round or oval, and may have smooth-edged bumps.
In you have an increased risk for breast cancer, your healthcare provider may strongly recommend surgical removal.
For this reason, you should continue routine breast cancer screening even if you have had a benign biopsy.
Breast fibroadenomas come in two different types:
Can Fibroadenomas Become Cancerous?
No, fibroadenomas are benign and cannot turn into cancer.
Simple fibroadenomas do not carry an increased risk of breast cancer.
Breast Fibroadenoma Treatment
Fibroadenomas are considered benign and do not need always need treatment.
Masses that are large, fast-growing, or cause symptoms can be removed with surgery or another medical procedure.
If a fibroadenoma causes pain, over-the-counter pain medications and applied heat can usually help.
Cryoablation
Cryoablationis a fast, efficient way to freeze a fibroadenoma.
In one office visit, the healthcare provider freezes the lump so that healthy tissue can take over.
This procedure takes less than 30 minutes and results in a tiny scar.
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
This is a way to remove fibroadenomas without resorting to a lumpectomy.
Through this cut, a surgical wand is inserted and then tipped by a knife heated by radiofrequency current.
This helps cut through the breast tissue without causing much bleeding.
Once it reaches the target, small wires and robotic arms capture the fibroadenoma and extract it.
Recovery is quick, and your scar will be quite small.
Lumpectomy
Surgical removal can be done if you’re worried about a fibroadenoma.
Summary
Breast fibroadenomas are the most common key in of noncancerous (benign) breast tumor.
A biopsy is the only way to ensure that a breast lump is a fibroadenoma.
Most fibroadenomas are considered simple and are not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.
Some fibroadenomas are considered complex because their cells look unusual under a microscope.
Proven fibroadenomas may not need treatment unless they are large, fast-growing, or cause bothersome symptoms.
Various ablation techniques can be used to shrink or destroy problematic lumps.
Very large fibroadenomas may need to be surgically removed.
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