The fibroadenoma is the most common benign tumor of the female breast and occurs mainly between the ages of 20 and 40. It consists of glandular and connective tissue of the breast and thus belongs to the mixed tumors. The fibroadenoma occurs in about 30% of all women.
The cause is assumed to be a hormonal dysregulation of the female hormones (estrogens and gestagens), under the influence of which the tumor develops and grows. This explains why taking the pill (oral contraceptives) can cause a regression of the fibroadenoma. A fibroadenoma is a round-oval, usually sharply defined lump that can easily be moved against the healthy tissue of the breast.
Untreated it can reach a size of 5cm. In most cases, only a single lump occurs, but rarely several can develop. Fibroadenomas can be divided into two different types according to their growth form.
The pericanalicular fibroadenoma grows around the round-oval mammary glands and thus presses the glands together concentrically. The intracanalicular fibroadenoma, on the other hand, squeezes the glands together in such a way that branched, slit-shaped cavities are formed like deer antlers. However, this distinction has no clinical significance.
Symptoms
A fibroadenoma causes no symptoms and is usually not painful. Large fibroadenomas can cause an unevenness in the form of a bulge on the chest. Fibroadenomas are usually discovered by women themselves during self-examination.
One or more lumps are palpable, which can be close together and are not painful. At the gynaecologist the breast and armpits are first closely examined (inspection) and palpated (palpation). This is followed by an ultrasound examination (sonography) and possibly also an X-ray examination of the breast (mammography).
If a malignant tumor cannot be excluded in this way, a tissue sample of the node is taken for further diagnostics and examined under the microscope. The required tissue is either removed by puncturing the node or the entire node is surgically removed. The phylloid tumor is similar to the fibroadenoma in its tissue structure, but is larger (up to 10 cm) and often forms tongue-like extensions that can break through to the skin surface.
They tend to reappear even after successful treatment (tendency to recur) and can degenerate malignantly in 10-15% of cases. As a rule, growing fibroadenomas are surgically removed. Small fibroadenomas, which do not show any growth, can initially only be observed if a malignant degeneration has been ruled out beforehand.
Oral contraceptives, such as the pill, can also be administered to induce a regression of the fibroadenoma and even prevent the occurrence of benign breast tumors. Before or during pregnancy, the removal of a fibroadenoma is recommended because fibroadenomas usually grow rapidly during pregnancy due to the altered hormone balance and can then lead to problems. As a rule, breastfeeding can be carried out without any problems after the removal of the fibroadenoma.
