Puget Sound Surgical Center - Benign Breast Lumps - Seattle Weight Loss Surgery and Bariatric Experts


	Breast Problems Benign Breast Lumps: The majority of breast lumps that are discovered are benign. Most women will experience a benign lump sometime in their lifetime. The following are the more common benign breast lump problems: Fibrocystic "disease": Fibrocystic breast condition is a common, non-cancerous condition that affects more than 50% of women at some point in their lives. It is responsible for 80% of all breast surgeries performed. The most common symptoms of fibrocystic breasts include lumpiness, tenderness, cysts (fluid filled sacs), areas of thickening, fibrosis (scar-like connective tissue), and breast pain. Fibrocystic breast condition is most common among women between the ages of 30 and 50. Because the condition is related to increased hormone levels during the menstrual cycle, the symptoms will usually cease after menopause unless a woman is taking hormone replacement therapy. Simple cysts: A variety of fibrocystic disease, cysts may appear as single or multiple fluid-filled sacs. With simple cysts there is no significant increase in fibrous tissue. As with fibrocystic breast condition, tenderness and the size of the lumps are affected by the menstrual cycle. Fibroadenoma: A fibroadenoma is a single benign (non-cancerous) solid tumor. It is composed of fibrous and glandular tissue. It most frequently occurs in women between the ages of 18 and 35, 50% more often in African-Americans than Caucasians, and is usually moveable when felt. Although not usually tender, premenstrual tenderness can occur. Nearly all breast tumors in women under the age of 25 are fibroadenomas. The cause of breast fibroadenomas is unknown. They may be dependent upon estrogen, because they are common in pre-menopausal women, can be found in postmenopausal women taking estrogen, and because they grow larger in pregnant women. Papillomas: Papillomas are small, wart-like growths in the lining of the mammary duct near the nipple. Papillomas can produce a clear or bloody discharge from the nipple. Of the benign conditions that cause suspicious nipple discharge, approximately half are due to papillomas, and the other half are a mixture of fibrocystic conditions or duct ectasia, the widening and hardening of the duct due to age or damage. At the same time the lining of the ducts can become ulcerated, which may cause pain. It can also lead to a discharge from the nipple. Inflammation or infection may also develop in the ducts.

Benign Breast Lumps: The majority of breast lumps that are discovered are benign. Most women will experience a benign lump sometime in their lifetime. The following are the more common benign breast lump problems:

Fibrocystic "disease": Fibrocystic breast condition is a common, non-cancerous condition that affects more than 50% of women at some point in their lives. It is responsible for 80% of all breast surgeries performed. The most common symptoms of fibrocystic breasts include lumpiness, tenderness, cysts (fluid filled sacs), areas of thickening, fibrosis (scar-like connective tissue), and breast pain. Fibrocystic breast condition is most common among women between the ages of 30 and 50. Because the condition is related to increased hormone levels during the menstrual cycle, the symptoms will usually cease after menopause unless a woman is taking hormone replacement therapy.

Simple cysts: A variety of fibrocystic disease, cysts may appear as single or multiple fluid-filled sacs. With simple cysts there is no significant increase in fibrous tissue. As with fibrocystic breast condition, tenderness and the size of the lumps are affected by the menstrual cycle.

Fibroadenoma: A fibroadenoma is a single benign (non-cancerous) solid tumor. It is composed of fibrous and glandular tissue. It most frequently occurs in women between the ages of 18 and 35, 50% more often in African-Americans than Caucasians, and is usually moveable when felt. Although not usually tender, premenstrual tenderness can occur. Nearly all breast tumors in women under the age of 25 are fibroadenomas.
The cause of breast fibroadenomas is unknown. They may be dependent upon estrogen, because they are common in pre-menopausal women, can be found in postmenopausal women taking estrogen, and because they grow larger in pregnant women.

Papillomas: Papillomas are small, wart-like growths in the lining of the mammary duct near the nipple. Papillomas can produce a clear or bloody discharge from the nipple. Of the benign conditions that cause suspicious nipple discharge, approximately half are due to papillomas, and the other half are a mixture of fibrocystic conditions or duct ectasia, the widening and hardening of the duct due to age or damage. At the same
time the lining of the ducts can become ulcerated, which may cause pain. It can also lead to a discharge from the nipple. Inflammation or infection may also develop in the ducts.