Fibroadenomas of the breast: is there any association with breast cancer?

Purpose: The experience of our Breast Unit in the diagnosis and treatment of fibroadenomas is presented in this retrospective study, focusing specifically in cancer development within these common benign tumors of young age.

Material-methods: 310 women with histologically verified breast fibroadenomas who had surgical management in our Unit over the last 14 years were included in the study.

Results: Most of them (n: 255) presented with palpable lesions and had triple assessment preoperatively, while the remaining 55 had nonpalpable lesions and underwent needle-wire localization biopsies. Nine cases had cancer development, usually in situ, within the fibroadenomas (2.9%).

Conclusion: Coexistence of fibroadenomas and breast cancer is relatively rare, but it should not be ignored by breast surgeons, and patients should be properly informed.

Fibroadenoma; Breast cancer; Mammography; Ultrasonography; Cytology; Biopsy

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