Types of Fibroadenomas

In addition to simple fibroadenomas, there are:

1. Complex fibroadenomas: These can have changes, such as cell overgrowth (hyperplasia) that can grow rapidly. A pathologist diagnoses a complex fibroadenomas after reviewing tissue from a biopsy.

2. Juvenile fibroadenomas: This is the most common type of breast lump found in girls and adolescent girls between the ages of 10 and 18. These fibroadenomas can grow quite large, but most shrink over time, and some disappear.

3. Giant fibroadenomas: These can grow to larger than 2 inches (5 cm). They may need to be removed because they can compress or replace other breast tissue.

4. Phyllodes tumors: Although phyllodes tumors are usually benign, they can become cancerous (malignant). Doctors usually recommend removing them.

Surgery:

Sometimes, a procedure called an excisional biopsy is required to remove a fibroadenoma if it is large, complex, or recent. You may also request a fibroadenoma removal. This is usually performed under general anesthesia.

The surgeon may use dissolvable stitches placed under the skin; these will not need to be removed. However, if a non-dissolvable stitch is used, it will need to be removed about a week after surgery. You will be given information about wound care before leaving the hospital.

1. Fine-needle aspiration. Using a thin needle inserted into your breast, your doctor attempts to aspirate the contents of the breast mass. If fluid comes out, the mass is likely a cyst.

2. Core needle biopsy. This procedure is usually performed by a radiologist guided by ultrasound. Your doctor uses a needle to collect tissue samples from the mass, which are sent to a laboratory for analysis.

Your doctor may recommend surgery to remove a fibroadenoma if any of your tests—a clinical breast exam, imaging tests, or biopsy—are abnormal, or if the fibroadenoma is very large, growing, or causing symptoms.

Procedures for removing a fibroadenoma include:

1. Lumpectomy or excisional biopsy: In this procedure, the surgeon removes breast tissue and sends it to a lab to check for cancer.

2. Cryoablation: Your doctor inserts a thin, wand-like device (cryoprobe) through your skin into the fibroadenoma. Gas is used to freeze and destroy the tissue.

After fibroadenoma removal: It is possible for one or more new fibroadenomas to develop. New breast lumps should be evaluated using mammograms, ultrasound, and possibly a biopsy to determine whether the lump is a fibroadenoma or could become cancerous.