Benign Breast Disease
Alireza Mohammadzadeh, MD
Thoracic Surgeon
Benign breast disorders & diseases
encompass a wide range of clinical and
pathologic entities
Understanding of these for :
clear explanation to affected women
appropriate treatment instituted
unnecessary follow up
Fibroadenoma
Predominantly in younger women aged 15
to 25 years
Usually grow to 1 or 2 cm and then are
stable
Small f. (<1cm) are considered normal
Larger f.(<3cm) are disorders
Giant f. (>3cm) are disease
Multiple f. (more than 5 in one breast) are
disease
Ultrasound
Benign
– Pure and intensely
hyperechoic
– Elliptical shape (wider
than tall)
– Lobulated
– Complete tine capsule
Malignant
– Hypoechoic,
spiculated
– Taller than wide
– Duct extension
– microlobulation
Fibroadenoma
Core-needle biopsy
Treatment
Surgical removal
Cryoablation
observation
Sclerosing adenosis
Prevalent during childbearing &
perimenopausal years
No malignant potential
Occasionally presents as a palpable mass
Benign calcification
Lesions up to 1 cm are called radial scar
Larger lesions are called complex
sclerosing
Sclerosing adenosis
Mimic of cancer
On physical examination, by
mammography, at gross pathology
Wire localized excisionl biopsy
Benign Breast Diseases
Glandular breast parenchyma
– Mass
– Asymmetric nodularity
– Pain
Nipple-Areolar Complex
– Discharge
– Rash
– Retraction
Surrounding breast skin
– Dimpling
Management
History
Clinical Breast Exam
Breast imaging
Tissue sampling
Therapy
History
Age
– Menarche
– Pregnancy
Breast feeding
– Menopause
Family History
Prior biopsies
Hormone therapy
Clinical Exam
Inspection
– Skin
– Symmetry
– Masses
Palpable
– Gland
– Axilla, Supraclavicular
spaces
– Nipple-areola complex
Breast Mass
Breast Cysts
– Fluid-filled
– 1 out of every 14 women
50% multiple and recurrent
– Hormonally influenced
– Needle aspirated
Breast Cyst
Breast Mass
Phyllodes Tumor
– Proliferation of connective tissue with ductal
elements
Whorled and cellular stroma
– Firm, lobulated
– 2 to 40 cm in size
– 10% malignant
– Treatment
Wide excision
Fibrocystic Disease
Clinical, mammographic and histologic
findings
Exaggerated response from hormones
and growth factors
– Cyclical pain
– Nodularity – upper outer quadrants
Fibrocystic Disease
Histology
– Adenosis
– Apocrine metaplasia
– Fibrosis
– Duct ectasia
– Mild ductal hyperplasia
Fibrocystic Disease
Risk Factors
– Dense breast
– Sclerosing adenosis
– Atypical ductal, papillary, or lobular
hyperplasia
Breast Pain
Cyclical pain – hormonal
– Dull, diffuse and bilateral
– Luteal phase
– Treatment
Reassurance
NSAIDS
Evening primrose oil
Non-cyclical pain
– Non-breast vs breast
– Imaging
– Treatment
Reassurance
NSAIDS
Evening primrose oil
Breast Infections
Mastitis
– Generalized cellulitis of the breast
– Ascending infection subareolar ducts
commonly occurs during lactation
– Staph. aureus
– Erythema, pain, tenderness
Mastitis
Treatment
– Abx
– Continue to breast
feed
– Close follow-up
Breast Abscess
Abscess
– Breast tissue
– Treatment
Abx
Needle aspiration
Incision and drainage
Nipple Discharge
Physiologic
– Bilateral
– Involves multiple ducts
– Heme (-)
– Non-spontaneous
Nipple Discharge
Pathologic
– Unilateral
– Spontaneous
– Heme (+)
Most common cause intraductal papilloma
Bloody Nipple Discharge
Intraductal Papilloma
Single duct
Benign
4% of intraductal ca
Imaging
Mammography
Ultrasound
MRI
Mammography
Screening tool
– Age of 40
Estimated reduction
in mortality 15-25%
10% false positive
rate
Densities &
calcifications
Calcification
Macrocalcifications
– Large white dots
– Almost always noncancerous and require no
further follow-up.
Microcalcifications
– Very fine white specks
– Usually noncancerous but can sometimes be
a sign of cancer.
– Size, shape and pattern
BI-RADS
BI-RADS
Classification
Features
0 Need additional imaging
1 Negative – routine in 1 yr
2 Benign finding – routine in 1 yr
3 Probably benign, 6mo follow-up
4 Suspicious abnormality, biopsy
recommended
5 Highly suggestive of malignancy;
appropriate action should be taken
Ultrasound
Not a screening tool
Palpable vs cystic
Mammographic detected lesion
Ultrasound
Malignant or Benign
Malignant vs Benign
MRI
High risk patients
– Personal history of breast ca
– LCIS, atypia
– 1st degree relative with breast cancer
– Very dense breast
High sensitivity (95-100%)
– 10-20% will have a biopsy
MRI
Pre Gad Post Gad Color Overlay
Diagnosis
Fine needle aspiration
– Cytology
Core biopsy
– Image guided
– Stereotactic
Excisional biopsy
– Needle localization
FNA
Fast, inexpensive
96% accuracy
Institution dependent
Unable to differentiate
b/w in situ vs CA
Core Needle Biopsy
14-18 gauge spring loaded needle
Tissue
Multiple
Large Core Biopsy
6-14 gauge core
Large samples
Single insertion
Core biopsy Vacuum Assisted
Excisional Biopsy
Atypical lesions
LCIS
Radial scar
Atypical papillary lesions
Radiologic-pathologic discordance
Phyllodes
Inadequate tissue harvesting

Benign breast disease