Fibroadenomas - Non-Cancerous Breast Lumps
Not all breast lumps are malignant (or cancerous). There is such a thing as benign (or non-cancerous) breast disease. The most prevalent, non-cancerous breast lumps are known as fibroadenomas.
Prevalence
Fibroadenomas occur in about 10 percent of all women and account for about half of the 1.6 million breast biopsies doctors perform each year in the US. They are common among girls in their teens and women in their twenties and thirties, but may occur at any age. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), fibroadenomas occur twice as often in African-American women.
About Fibroadenomas
Fibroadenomas are usually solid, round, non-cancerous tumors that feel like a marble within the breast. They can range in size from microscopic to several inches across and you or your doctor can feel them during a breast exam. Fibroadenomas may require removal if they cause pain, continue to grow or change in shape. Many doctors recommend removing them for biopsy to ensure they are not cancerous. Sometimes, new fibroadenomas may develop even after doctors remove old ones.
Detection, Diagnosis and Treatment
Most women detect fibroadenomas during a self-breast examination or your doctor may detect them during a clinical breast examination. Removing the lump may be necessary. Until now, most fibroadenomas have been removed using an open surgical biopsy method. Open surgical removal of fibroadenomas may involve the removal of nearby breast tissue which can cause scarring and breast disfigurement. And this method does require stitches and an incision 1- to 2-inches long.
Now, doctors can use the Mammotome® Biopsy System in the management of fibroadenomas with minimal scarring, no stitches and immediate recovery. The incision using this method is the size of a match head and the procedure may be performed in the doctor's office.
Learn more about a biopsy procedure using the Mammotome Biopsy System.