A Fibroadenoma is a painless, benign (non- cancerous) breast tumor that is a solid lump. They are often referred to as 'breast mouse' due to their high mobility.
Cause and Age group:
It most commonly occurs in women between age group of 14-35 years but can be found at any age. Fibroadenomas shrink after menopause and therefore are less common in postmenopausal women.
The incidence of fibroadenoma decreases with increasing age and generally found before 30 years of age in females in the general population. It is estimated that 10% of the world's female population suffers from fibroadenoma once in a lifetime.
Causes of fibroadenoma are debatable, but professionals believe that the lesion has a hormonal cause related to the increased sensitivity of breast tissue to the female reproductive hormone, estrogen. Fibroadenoma usually grows during pregnancy and tends to shrink during menopause. This supports the hormonal etiologic theory. Females who take oral contraceptives before 20 years of age tend to suffer from fibroadenoma at higher rates than the general population.
Clinical Features and Symptoms:
A fibroadenoma is a solid breast lump that often causes no pain. It is:
· Round with distinct, smooth borders
· Easily moved
· Firm or rubbery
A fibroadenoma can cause pain before the start of menstruation. A large fibroadenoma can sometimes cause pain on touching.
Diagnosis:
It is diagnosed from patient’s history, clinical examination, radiological investigations like USG of the breast and FNAC/Tru-cut Biopsy.
Treatment:
Most cases fibroadenomas need no treatment. They shrink and disappear over time, but if their size is large, causing pain or causing poor cosmesis, then they should be removed by surgery.
Image of an excised specimen of Fibroadenoma.
Prognosis
Prognosis of fibroadenoma is good because it is a benign mass and also shrinks in size over time in most of cases.
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