About Fibroadenomas

/Home/b. About Breast Cancer/Breast Cancer Types/Benign Breast Lumps/Fibroadenomas

About Fibroadenomas

What is a fibroadenoma?
A fibroadenoma is a benign (non cancerous) breast tumor made of glandular and fibrous breast tissue. Fibroadenomas can occur alone, in groups or as a complex.

What does a fibroadenoma feel like?
It is a marble-like lump that moves easily within the breast.

How large will my breast lump grow?
The size of a fibroadenoma usually ranges between half an inch and almost 2 inches wide. However, it can grow as large as a golf ball. About 10 percent of all fibroadenomas will disappear over time, and 32 percent of them will continue to grow. Some fibroadenomas may stop growing on their own. These lumps tend to grow more rapidly in young women and pregnant women.

If I have one fibroadenoma, am I likely to get more?
Fibroadenomas are usually isolated breast masses. In 10 to 15 percent of cases, multiple fibroadenomas may occur. Fibroadenomas may be present in both breasts.

Does a fibroadenoma ever become cancerous (malignant)?
Rarely to never. If you have multiple or complex fibroadenomas, your risk of breast cancer may increase slightly. A fibroadenoma can block or hide the visibility of smaller, cancerous tissue during an ultrasound and during your own breast self exam.

How common are fibroadenomas?
If you have a fibroadenoma, you’re not alone. These noncancerous lumps are found in 10 percent of all women and most commonly in women between the ages of 15 and 30. They occur in 20 percent of African-American women.

What causes fibroadenomas?
While the cause of breast fibroadenomas is unknown, they are usually found in premenopausal women or women taking estrogen, and they often grow rapidly in pregnant women.

What are fibroadenoma symptoms?
You may feel one or more of the following symptoms if your breast lump is a fibroadenoma:

Pain
Discomfort
Tenderness
Tightness/tension
Hard lump that grows larger over time

Diagnosis

Breast lumps are often discovered during breast self-examination or during a routine check-up. If you feel something unusual in your breast, you should notify your doctor immediately.

Your doctor will start by physically examining your breast, looking for anything abnormal. If your doctor confirms that you have a breast lump, the next step is to determine if the lump is cancerous or not. A biopsy is the only way to definitively diagnose your lump. Your doctor may perform one or more of the following procedures:

Mammography
In a mammogram, fibroadenomas appear as round, smooth-edged masses. The outline of the mass will be clearly defined, not blurry. Breast cysts frequently look like abnormal shadows on a mammogram.
Breast ultrasound
This technique, using sound waves, can help to distinguish a cyst or fibroadenoma from other tissue. A fibroadenoma will appear as a round, dark area with a definite outline. Ultrasound makes fluid in the breast cyst visible.
Fine-needle aspiration
A very fine needle is inserted into the lump. If fluid can be drawn out, the lump may be a benign breast cyst. This procedure removes the fluid from inside the cyst, which deflates. If the lump is solid, small tissue fragments are drawn out. A specialist will examine the biopsy fluid or tissue to determine if it is cancerous.
Core-needle biopsy
The needle used in core biopsies is larger than the one used for fine-needle aspiration. The doctor numbs the area around your lump to minimize the discomfort during the biopsy. The core needle removes a small cylinder of tissue for examination by a specialist. With this biopsy, your doctor can definitively diagnose your lump. These biopsies are usually done with the help of some type of imaging, ultrasound, mammography and even MRI can be used to assist the biopsy.

How will I know if my breast lump is a fibroadenoma?
Your doctor will use one or more diagnostic tools. In a mammogram, fibroadenomas appear as round, smooth-edged masses. The outline of the mass will usually be clearly defined, not blurry. In a sonogram a fibroadenoma will appear as a round, dark area with a definite outline. The tool most commonly used to definitively diagnose your lump as a fibroadenoma is a core-needle or vacuum assisted biopsy.

What is a core-needle biopsy?
The physician will insert a large, hollow-core needle through the skin and into the lump to take a small tissue sample into the core needle. The sample then goes to the lab for testing and analysis.

What is a vacuum-assisted biopsy?
It is similar to a core-needle biopsy but it uses a vacuum to pull tissue into the large, hollow-core needle when taking a small tissue sample. The sample then goes to the lab for testing and analysis.

Does a core-needle or vacuum-assisted biopsy hurt?
The physician will numb the area where the needle will be inserted with a local anesthesia to minimize the discomfort of the procedure. You will feel a slight pinch as the physician uses a tiny needle to administer the anesthesia, in the same way your dentist numbs your mouth in preparation for a dental procedure. Depending on the imaging assistance used, your breast may be compressed as it is when getting a mammogram. After the anesthesia wears off, you may feel tenderness and discomfort for a few days.

If my breast lump disappears, will I need to have a biopsy done?
Even if you can no longer feel your lump, you should still see your doctor.

How will I know if my breast lump is a cyst?
Your physician will likely perform a breast ultrasound examination. Breast ultrasound is the most sensitive and accurate imaging method for the identification and diagnosis of breast cysts.

© Copyright 2008 BreastLumpInfo.com