A tumor in the breast represents the most common complaint for which women consult a physician, referring to their change as a mass or a thickening. Approximately 70% of all breast tumors are benign, while fibroadenomas are considered a second most common benign breast lesion with an incidence of 18-20% (following omnipresent fibrocystic changes in the breast).
Fibroadenomas are important as they comprise almost 50% of all breast biopsies (this rate climbs to 75% for biopsies in women younger than 20 years). The expert consensus opinion is that women with these changes are not at higher risk of developing breast cancer.
Risk and protective factors
Fibroadenomas are usually seen among women that belong to higher socioeconomic classes, but also in dark-skinned individuals. Moreover, the number …show more content…
This theory is supported by molecular analysis which has shown that both the epithelial and the stromal cells are polyclonal in these lesions.
There are two main histopathological variants of fibroadenomas: juvenile or cellular fibroadenoma that grows rapidly and is associated with projecting veins and skin ulcerations, and giant fibroadenoma that displays a substantial degree of stromal cellularity and is usually larger than five centimeters in diameter.
Estrogen and progesterone (two primary ovarian hormones) and lactation during pregnancy can successfully stimulate fibroadenomas, whereas in menopause they undergo atrophic remodeling. Some of them bear receptors on their surface and respond to human epidermal growth factor (EGH) and growth hormone.
They are rarely seen in older patients, where they may go through involutional change – either due to increased stromal growth or because of an unrecognized infarction with necrosis. The end-result is calcified or hyalinized
Fibroadenomas are important as they comprise almost 50% of all breast biopsies (this rate climbs to 75% for biopsies in women younger than 20 years). The expert consensus opinion is that women with these changes are not at higher risk of developing breast cancer.
Risk and protective factors
Fibroadenomas are usually seen among women that belong to higher socioeconomic classes, but also in dark-skinned individuals. Moreover, the number …show more content…
This theory is supported by molecular analysis which has shown that both the epithelial and the stromal cells are polyclonal in these lesions.
There are two main histopathological variants of fibroadenomas: juvenile or cellular fibroadenoma that grows rapidly and is associated with projecting veins and skin ulcerations, and giant fibroadenoma that displays a substantial degree of stromal cellularity and is usually larger than five centimeters in diameter.
Estrogen and progesterone (two primary ovarian hormones) and lactation during pregnancy can successfully stimulate fibroadenomas, whereas in menopause they undergo atrophic remodeling. Some of them bear receptors on their surface and respond to human epidermal growth factor (EGH) and growth hormone.
They are rarely seen in older patients, where they may go through involutional change – either due to increased stromal growth or because of an unrecognized infarction with necrosis. The end-result is calcified or hyalinized