Fibroadenoma

[Khibeodangiu]

I. Definition:
- Fibroadenoma:
(i) Benign fibroepithelial tumor characterized by proliferation of both glandular and stromal elements
(ii) Most commonly presents in teenage girls and women under the age of thirty.
(iii) Slight risk for future breast cancer.
- 10 - 15% of women have several lumps that may affect both breasts.

II. Symptoms and causes:
a. Symptoms:
- Presence lump which is sphere shaped, with a smooth surface. painless, firm, solitary, mobile, slowly growing, move slightly in the breast of a woman of childbearing years.
b. Causes:
- Estrogen sensitivity is thought to play a role in fibroadenoma growth: some tumors may increase in size towards the end of the menstruation or during pregnancy. After menopause, many fibroadenomas spontaneously shrink due to lower estrogen levels. Hormone therapy for postmenopausal women may prevent fibroadenomas from shrinking.
III. Diagnose:
* Biopsy (needle or open)
* Breast ultrasound
* Fine needle aspiration (FNA)
* Mammogram
* Physical examination
IV. Pathology:


- Fibroadenoma of the breast is a benign tumor composed of two elements : epithelium and stroma.
- There are two main histological features : intracanalicular and pericanalicular. Both types are often found in the same tumor.
(i) Intracanalicular fibroadenoma (photo A) : stromal proliferation predominates and compresses the ducts, which are irregular, reduced to slits.
(ii)Pericanalicular fibroadenoma (photo B) : fibrous stroma proliferates around the ductal spaces, so that they remain round or oval, on cross section. The basement membrane is intact.
References:
- http://pathologyatlas.ro
- Wikipedia
- http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/007216.htm