A lump in the breast

The breast is a very important part of a woman's body and is also a place where problems are very likely to occur. A lump in the breast is a very typical phenomenon. It is very likely caused by breast fibroadenoma. A single symptom is difficult to make an accurate judgment and requires a comprehensive analysis. We need to first understand the situation of breast fibroadenoma. Let's take a closer look at it below.

Breast fibroadenoma is a benign tumor composed of a mixture of glandular epithelium and fibrous tissue. It is common in young women and is related to an imbalance in sex hormone levels in the patient's body. This disease is also known as adenofibroma and adenoma, which is due to the different degrees of fibrous components and glandular epithelial hyperplasia that make up the tumor. When the tumor is mainly composed of glandular epithelial hyperplasia with fewer fibrous components, it is called fibroadenoma; if fibrous tissue accounts for the majority of the tumor and the glandular duct components are relatively small, it is called adenofibroma; when the tumor tissue is composed of a large number of glandular duct components, it is called adenoma.

The above three classifications only differ in pathological morphology. Their clinical manifestations, treatments and prognoses are no different, so they are collectively called fibroadenomas. Breast fibroadenomas are common in the upper outer quadrant of the breast. They are round or oval in shape, clinically 1 to 3 cm in size, and grow slowly, but may grow rapidly during pregnancy or lactation. Fibroadenomas that occur in a very small number during adolescence can rapidly increase in size within a short period of time, with a diameter of up to 8 to 10 cm. These are called giant fibroadenomas and are still benign tumors. It is extremely rare for fibroadenoma to transform into fibrosarcoma or breast cancer, less than 1%.

Causes

The ovaries are functioning vigorously, the estrogen levels are too high, and the regulation is unbalanced. In addition, the patient is sensitive to estrogen. Under the long-term stimulation of estrogen, the breast epithelial tissue and fibrous tissue proliferate excessively, the structure becomes disordered, and a tumor is formed. Since breast fibroadenoma is related to vigorous secretion of sex hormones, it mostly occurs in young women and is rare in women before menstruation or after menopause.

Clinical manifestations

It is mainly a painless breast lump, rarely accompanied by breast pain or nipple discharge. Lumps are often discovered accidentally, while bathing, or during a physical examination. Most lumps are single, but they can also be multiple, or they can be felt in both breasts simultaneously or successively. Most of them are round or oval, with a diameter of 1 to 3 cm, but there are also smaller or larger ones, and occasionally huge ones. The boundaries are clear, the edges are neat, the surface is smooth, elastic, there is no tenderness, the range of motion is large, and there is no adhesion to the skin.