Fibroadenoma of the breast is one of the most common diseases of adult women. The disease is characterized by the development of benign neoplasms directly in the mammary gland. Obstetricians and gynecologists consider fibroadenoma as one of the types of nodular mastopathy.
Nodular mastopathy is an extensive group of breast diseases that occurs as a result of the development of a pronounced hormonal imbalance.
The fibroadenoma itself is a spherical seal in the breast tissue. The seal is not soldered to the skin, it moves freely inside the gland. The size of the neoplasm is different – there are fibroadenomas from 2 millimeters to several centimeters in diameter. After a while, the seal may begin to grow – this is due to the influence of steroid hormones estrogens.
CAUSES OF BREAST FIBROADENOMA
As mentioned earlier, fibroadenoma is a hormone–dependent disease. Based on this, it is logical to assume that the disease rarely occurs as independently. Fibroadenoma most often accompanies some diseases of the endocrine and reproductive systems.
The specific causes of the disease, however, have not been studied so well. For example, a fibroadenoma that develops in a young girl may have a cause in the form of menstrual irregularities, which in itself may have a large number of causes.
Numerous artificial abortions of pregnancy, as well as as a result of prolonged use of oral contraceptives, can provoke the development of a tumor.
Fibroadenoma most often develops in women aged 20 to 30 years, but there are also more special cases – both at an earlier and later age.
SYMPTOMS OF BREAST FIBROADENOMA
In the early stages, the disease does not manifest itself in any way. In some cases, a woman learns about the development of fibroadenoma quite by accident – for example, during an annual preventive examination by a mammologist. As the disease develops, the seal becomes more and more obvious – and a woman can independently palpate it.
To the touch, the tumor is quite dense, not soldered to the surrounding tissues, easily moves when palpated inside the gland. Sometimes, women complain of painful sensations in the chest, but this is not specific for the development of fibroadenoma.
If fibroadenoma develops as a concomitant disease with other pathologies, then the clinical picture becomes richer and corresponds to the disease that actually causes the development of fibroadenoma.
DIAGNOSIS OF FIBROADENOMA
If suspicious seals are found in the mammary gland, you should immediately contact a gynecologist, a mammologist. The doctor should conduct a survey, collect anamnesis, clarify the presence of gynecological and endocrine diseases, as well as conduct a physical examination.
Mammography, ultrasound of the mammary gland can be performed as additional diagnostic methods.
TREATMENT OF BREAST FIBROADENOMA
Currently, different methods of treating breast fibroadenoma are used. Naturally, treatment begins with conservative methods. However, more and more often doctors resort to surgical treatment, especially if there is a rapid increase in compaction or a significant size.
Among surgical interventions , the following types of interventions are distinguished:
Cryoablation is the effect on the tumor by freezing.
Laser ablation is a modern non–surgical method of tumor removal without changing the physiological shape of the breast.
Radiowave removal of the tumor.
Vacuum removal of fibroadenoma, which is performed under local anesthesia.
