Fibroadenoma of the mammary gland is dangerous. What is breast fibroadenoma, what causes it and why is it dangerous? How is a tumor different from a fibroadenoma?

Without a doubt, breast tumors, both benign and malignant, scare women the most. Moreover, the frequency of occurrence of such diagnoses as mastopathy, in one form or another, or oncological disease (cancer is a malignant tumor) of the breast is steadily increasing every year.

Today there is no woman who would not understand that the benign nature of the tumor is much less dangerous for the patient than the malignant form of the breast neoplasm.

Naturally, those and other tumor-like processes have their own characteristic features / signs, according to which the doctor differentiates them.

As a rule, the mentality of our women is such that the curiosity of the patients knows no bounds. Of course, most of us, discovering this or that breast seal in ourselves, want to immediately determine for sure that a particular formation is not malignant in nature, and does not represent breast cancer.

Many women want to know exactly how physicians manage to distinguish fibroadenoma from one or another cancerous growth.

For most patients, it is important to understand whether or not a fibroadenoma, in their particular case, can develop into cancer. We immediately hasten to warn women who are overly independent and confident in their diagnostic abilities from rash actions and decisions.

Breast fibroadenoma, although a benign tumor that has quite characteristic symptoms and manifestations, and is relatively safe in prognosis, can still have both hidden and dangerous forms that are difficult to distinguish from other diseases. In addition, breast fibroadenoma, albeit in an extremely rare cases(in separate leaf-shaped forms), but can still develop into cancer.

And this means that when you discover some incomprehensible seal in yourself, you should not look on the Internet for diagnoses similar in their manifestations, it would be much better to immediately consult a doctor, because it is the doctor who, with the help of the right studies, selected individually, can determine fibroadenoma and exclude breast cancer .

However, as general information, which we hope women will use correctly (having suspected something was wrong, they will turn to the doctor), we will present the main features of both benign and malignant neoplasms.

Characteristic features of benign tumors (fibroadenomas in particular)

Fibroadenoma is a benign tumor that can occur at a relatively young age in women. Fibroadenoma is characterized by:

Relatively slow growth. When the formation remains the same diameter for a long period, although it may be quite large.
Dense consistency.
Smoothness and limitation from surrounding tissues.
Moderate mobility.
Complete painlessness with no progressive symptoms.

The nature of fibroadenoma is usually such that the tumor is discovered by chance, during palpation or routine examination. Statistical data show that this type of tumor can be detected mainly at a young age, say from twenty years and older, up to forty years.

It is believed that most often the problem can be localized in the upper outer chest quadrants, directly in the same areas where cancer usually develops.

It is extremely rare, with such tumor-like processes, some discharge from the nipples occurs, in addition, with such a tumor, there is almost never an increase in certain regional lymph nodes which distinguishes this tumor from a malignant one.

Note that the diagnosis fibrous tumor, unlike cancer, practically does not present difficulties. But, the treatment of such a tumor, for the most part, is surgical, which consists in removing the existing neoplasm.

Characteristic features of malignant tumors of the breast

Unfortunately, it is breast cancer, according to domestic statistics, that is the most common tumor-like process that affects this female organ. It is customary to say that almost 35% of women with breast diseases are eventually diagnosed with an oncological neoplasm.

It is believed that malignant tumors can develop from primary glandular vesicles or ducts, while the tumor is most often expressed in a single large node, somewhat less often, as two or more dense, clearly limited (separate), extremely inactive nodes.

Unlike a benign fibrous tumor, an oncological neoplasm is always closely associated with surrounding tissues, and practically cannot be displaced.

Doctors note that in advanced or advanced stages, such a malignant tumor can grow into the skin, thereby forming mushroom-shaped outgrowths with decay processes in the center. In addition, malignant tumors can also spread superficially, primarily covering the breast in dense layers (the so-called shell cancer).

But, regional metastases of malignant tumors of the breast develop, first of all, along the axillary tracts of the outflow of lymphatic fluid.

Oncological neoplasms almost always pose a huge risk to the health and even life of the patient, although with their timely detection, doctors can easily cope with this disease.

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As a result, I would like to say that in order to avoid the most dangerous consequences of such diseases, doctors recommend being examined regularly, since only the timely detection of a problem allows you to deal with it in the most successful way.

Do you still think that it is completely impossible to cure your body?

How can they be identified?

nervousness, sleep disturbance and appetite;
allergies (watery eyes, rashes, runny nose);
frequent headaches, constipation or diarrhea;
frequent colds, sore throat, nasal congestion;
pain in the joints and muscles;
chronic fatigue (you get tired quickly, no matter what you do);
dark circles, bags under the eyes.

Having found a seal in the form of a pea or a small ball in their chest, women go to the doctor with the hope that this is not a cancerous tumor. Having learned that the neoplasm is benign, they begin to doubt whether it is necessary to perform an operation, to cut out the tumor. This issue is of particular concern for pregnant women who have breast fibroadenoma. There are situations in which it is dangerous to postpone or refuse surgery. In each case, the doctor individually decides which treatment method to choose.

What is a fibroadenoma

Fibroadenoma is a tumor neoplasm in the mammary gland, which is formed due to the growth of fibers of the connective (fibrous) tissue. It has a benign character, but in some cases it degenerates into a malignant tumor (sarcoma).

There are several types of fibroadenoma:

pericanalicular (tissue grows around the lactiferous duct);
intracanalicular (the tumor forms inside the lactiferous duct);
mixed (tissues grow inside and outside the duct);
leaf-shaped (leaf-shaped cracks filled with mucus are formed in the tumor). It is this type of breast fibroadenoma that is most likely to degenerate into a sarcoma.

A tumor is found in the form of a soft spherical formation with a diameter of 5 mm to several centimeters. Unlike a cancerous tumor, a fibroadenoma is not associated with the skin of the breast; it moves freely on palpation. It is localized, as a rule, in the upper outer part of the gland. And it occurs in one of them or simultaneously in both. It is possible to form several tumors located in different areas of the mammary gland.

The tumor is painless. With a significant size of the neoplasm, an increase in the mammary gland is observed. Her skin is normal.

The tumor is hormone dependent. It is formed and grows as a result of exceeding the norm of estrogen in the body, the cause of which may be endocrine disorders, the use of hormonal drugs, including for the purpose of contraception. Hyperestrogenism can also occur as a result of ovarian disease, obesity, insufficient physical activity women and exposure to other factors. Most often, such a tumor is found in women aged 20-35 years, when the estrogen content in the body reaches a maximum.

What are the treatments for fibroadenoma?

The choice of treatment method depends on the age of the woman, the size and type of fibroadenoma. There are 2 methods of treatment: conservative and surgical.

To remove fibroadenoma or not, the doctor decides after an examination, including ultrasound, mammography, a blood test for hormones and antibodies to cancer cells, a biopsy of the mammary glands, followed by a histological examination of tumor tissues.

Conservative treatment is carried out in the case when the neoplasm has a diameter of not more than 8 mm. A woman is prescribed drugs that suppress the production of estrogens and reduce their blood levels, as well as drugs containing vitamin E and iodine. A special diet is recommended to help you lose weight. The condition of the patient's breast is constantly monitored by ultrasound. If they notice that the tumor not only does not decrease, but begins to grow, it is removed surgically.

When is the operation performed

Surgical removal is the main method of treatment. The operation is mandatory in the following cases:

When, according to the results of the tests, it is not possible to accurately determine the nature of the tumor. Suspicions of cancer are refuted or confirmed by subsequent histological examination of the removed material.
When detecting even a small leaf-shaped tumor.
If rapid growth of fibroadenoma is noticed (it doubles within 5 months).
The neoplasm has a diameter of 3-5 cm or more.
If a woman wishes to remove a cosmetic defect of the mammary gland or the patient has cancerophobia.
When planning a pregnancy.
In women over 40 years of age (there is an increased likelihood of the formation of malignant cells due to a sharp change in hormonal levels).

Warning: Unfortunately, even an operation does not guarantee that the tumor will not reappear if the cause of its formation, hormonal imbalance, is not eliminated. Therefore, it is important to treat diseases that resulted in a hormonal shift, to regulate body weight.

Video: Indications for removal of fibroadenoma and methods of operation

Fibroadenoma during pregnancy

During pregnancy, the level of estrogen in the blood rises significantly, as they are produced by the placenta. As a result, rapid tumor growth can begin. This affects the production of milk and makes it difficult for the baby to feed. If during pregnancy a tumor larger than 1 cm in diameter with a dense capsule is detected, then it must be removed, although the presence of a tumor does not affect the course of the pregnancy itself and the condition of the fetus.

However, in some cases, when the size of the tumor is small, the shell has not yet fully formed, removal is not performed, since the operation is stressful for the body of the pregnant woman. In this case, the state of the tumor is constantly monitored. With prolonged breastfeeding (within 1.5-2 years), it can resolve itself.

Fibroadenoma with menopause

If the diagnosis confirmed that the tumor is benign, besides, it arose before the onset of symptoms of menopause, then it is not removed. The reason is that with a decrease in the amount of estrogen that occurs in a woman due to the aging of the body, tumor growth sometimes stops completely, the disease regresses.

How is a fibroadenoma surgically removed?

As a rule, the operation is performed under local anesthesia. After removal of the tumor, a cosmetic suture is applied.

Breast fibroadenoma can be removed in the following ways:

Enucleation (husking). This method is used to eliminate small tumors, if its nature is established absolutely accurately, suspicions of cancer are completely removed.
sectoral resection. The operation is performed under local or general anesthesia. Bulky tumors are eliminated in this way when cancer is suspected. In this case, not only the fibroadenoma itself is removed, but also the tissues surrounding it. The imposition of a cosmetic seam allows you to make the incision site invisible. Sometimes a special gel is used to quickly dissolve the suture, which prevents the formation of a scar. It is applied on the first day after the operation. The disadvantage of the method is that after the operation, until complete healing, pain is felt in the chest.
Laser burning. The operation is carried out within 15 minutes, is used to eliminate fibroadenomas of any kind. After removal of the tumor, a small, rapidly healing suture remains. After such an operation, pain can be observed in the suture area for several days. Removal is performed under local anesthesia.

Addendum: In very rare cases, when the tumor grows to a size of more than 8 cm or many scattered seals are found, a complete removal of the breast must be performed, but usually a fibroadenoma can be detected and removed at an earlier stage.

Video: What is fibroadenoma. How is the operation to remove it

Complications after surgery

After surgery to remove the tumor, suppuration of the wound may occur due to infection. Temperature rise is possible. Eliminate the inflammatory process with antibiotics.

Note: When deciding whether or not to have an operation, women should take into account that after the removal of fibroadenoma by any surgical method, the lactational function of the mammary gland is not disturbed.

In order for the healing to take place quickly and safely, a woman must follow the recommendations of doctors: within 2 weeks after removal of the fibroadenoma, do not visit the sauna, do not exercise, avoid exposure to sunlight, do not take a hot bath, use only a shower. It is forbidden to make any compresses on the chest and self-medicate in other ways.

In 15-20% of cases, the disease recurs, and the operation has to be repeated.

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How best to treat breast fibroadenoma

Having heard the diagnosis - breast fibroadenoma, women are concerned about whether to remove it or not. This disease occurs in the form of the formation of a tumor of a benign nature from the tissues of the mammary gland. The tumor is quite mobile, often appears in the upper part and does not contact the skin in any way. The size of the tumor can be very different (from a few millimeters to 7-8 centimeters).

Fibroadenoma originates from connective tissue, which begins to actively grow due to hormonal imbalance. The pathological process can develop as an independent disease or against the background of an already present one. Common causes are violations in the reproductive and nervous systems.

Causes

The exact causes of the development of this pathology have not been precisely established. Among the contingent of the female population, fibroadenoma is common in the age group from 16 to 45 years. Thanks to many years of research, it was possible to identify some predisposing factors:

Heredity.
Frequent stress and neuroses.
Diseases endocrine system according to the type of violation of the thyroid gland or ovaries.
Diseases of the gynecological profile (cysts in the ovaries, endometritis, inflammation of the appendages, formations in the uterus, endometrial polyposis).
Pathologies that disrupt the functioning of the liver.
Frequency and quality of sexual life. This factor is of considerable importance, because statistics say that women who live an irregular sexual life are more prone to developing breast pathologies.
A considerable risk of fibroadenoma exists in women who do not become pregnant for a long time, provided that they have a regular sexual life.

Any form of benign neoplasm that affects the mammary glands increases the risk of developing breast cancer. For example, in women with a diffuse form of pathology, these chances are increased by almost 3 times, and with a focal form by 7. Fibroadenoma increases the risk of developing cancer by 5 times. Considering these factors and possible complications, women are recommended to undergo regular examinations by a mammologist and gynecologist.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Fibroadenoma is characterized by a painless course. Visual signs appear sluggishly, and only from the moment when the disease begins to actively progress. The general condition of a sick woman does not change, she does not feel pain, there is no hyperthermia or any other manifestations.

Establishing a diagnosis in the early stages of the pathology is quite problematic, since the size of the tumor is still small and difficult to feel. Such tumors are often found by chance, or when a woman seeks medical care with another disease.

The easiest place for diagnosis is considered to be the localization of fibroadenoma in the nipple area.

Signs that should alert a woman:

Cracks, sores, nodules on or near the nipple.
Pronounced pain syndrome when pressed.
Light discharge from the chest.

Without necessary treatment, fibroadenoma is able to transform into sarcoma - a malignant tumor. In such a case, the course of the disease worsens sharply, the woman develops symptoms in the form of an increase in the size of the tumor and a change in skin color.

Diagnosis of the disease has several stages:

First, a mammologist must conduct a visual examination, palpation, anamnesis of life and the disease itself.
Hardware diagnostic methods (ultrasound, breast radiography - mammography).
Biopsy.
Cytological examination education tissues.

Based on the data ultimately obtained, the doctor establishes a diagnosis and prescribes treatment. The question of whether to remove the tumor is assessed individually for each patient.

Treatment

The question that worries every sick woman is “To remove fibroadenoma of the breast, or not?” can be discussed with a mammologist. If there is a small knot in the breast that does not bring any discomfort, the woman may decide that the operation is not necessary.

Surgeons unanimously insist that fibroadenoma must be removed in any case, since this may be the only method of getting rid of the tumor. It is important not to waste precious time and carry out the procedure as soon as possible. It is advisable to get rid of the tumor immediately after its determination.

Among the main reasons why a woman may refuse the surgical intervention offered to her is the unwillingness to give her body to surgical manipulations. There is an erroneous opinion among many ladies that a tumor that is not disturbing can be in the mammary gland and beyond. But such an attitude towards the tumor can be dangerous, because the neoplasm grows and can threaten the body.

Some doctors rely on the treatment of fibroadenoma with conservative therapy. This approach can be used for tumors up to 1 cm, and only for 6 months. If no positive changes occur within six months, the woman is recommended to go for surgery.

A treatment plan is drawn up after a complete examination of a woman, but even under all suitable conditions, it is extremely rare to achieve a positive result from medication treatment.

Another danger that awaits a woman with a tumor in her breast is a high risk of her acquiring malignant properties. A neoplasm rarely turns into cancer, but very quickly develops into a sarcoma. A huge threat is posed by leaf-shaped fibroadenoma, in the diagnosis of which only surgical removal is indicated.

Indications for surgery

Absolute indications for surgical intervention for tumor removal are:

It has grown more than 2 centimeters in diameter.
The growth rate is too fast.
Leafy form.
Suspicion of sarcoma.
Lack of positive dynamics after 6 months of conservative treatment.
Planning for pregnancy.

Operating doctors recommend getting rid of the tumor to all ladies who wish to become pregnant soon. While the baby is developing in the womb, the body will experience impressive hormonal changes that can lead to accelerated tumor growth and its degeneration into a malignant form. The fibroadenoma itself does not pose any danger to the unborn child, which cannot be said about the health and life of the mother.

The operation is performed under local or general anesthesia, it is performed in two versions:

Enucleation is an operation performed on tumors of small diameter. Using a special surgical tool, the surgeon removes the tumor so as not to touch healthy tissue. The recovery period after enucleation is very fast.
Resection - this operation is indicated in the presence of large tumors. In this case, the doctor removes part of the mammary gland, covering the remaining defect with healthy tissues.

Recovery period

Often, during the recovery period after surgery, women experience a feeling of pain in the projection area. postoperative suture. This phenomenon is considered normal, and there is no reason to panic.

If the pain syndrome is very intense, the doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs that will eliminate the discomfort. You can reduce the pain with the help of ice by applying it to the painful point. When the tumor is removed, a cosmetic suture is applied to the skin of the mammary gland, the traces of which are almost invisible. For 3 days they can not be wetted. Care advice should be given by the surgeon.

Rehabilitation consists of the use of special ointments and gels that lubricate the seams. These funds should contain substances that accelerate healing and prevent the formation of an ugly scar. The drug is started to be used 10-15 days after the operation, in a course of 2 months.

Unfortunately, the operation does not always guarantee 100% success in getting rid of fibroadenoma. In some women, the tumor may recur, because the operation will not get rid of the cause and does not normalize the level of hormones. In order to avoid recurrence of the disease, it is necessary to identify the underlying cause and the state of the hormonal balance. For diagnosis and treatment, it is necessary to contact a gynecologist-endocrinologist and a mammologist.

rak03.ru

Fibroadenoma of the breast: treatment without surgery, modern methods

Until recently, surgery was the only way to get rid of fibroadenoma - benign tumor mammary gland. In recent years, new methods of treatment have appeared, without incisions and tissue excision. Non-surgical treatment is usually performed under local anesthesia. There are practically no traces left on the mammary gland. The main thing is that if even a small seal is found, a woman should immediately consult a doctor to establish the nature of the neoplasm. Breast fibroadenoma can be controlled if it is small.

Methods for the treatment of fibroadenoma

When deciding how to treat a woman when a fibroadenoma is detected, the doctor relies on the results of the examination. First of all, you need to know for sure that this neoplasm is not malignant. Then the dimensions of the seal are taken into account.

Fibroadenoma is most often found in singular, however, there may be exceptions. Therefore, it is important to carefully examine both mammary glands.

Great importance has the age and physiological state of the woman. This tumor is estrogen-dependent, that is, its formation and growth are provoked by an increased content of estrogens in the body. It usually occurs in young women. Moreover, in girls under 20 years old, the so-called juvenile, or immature form may appear. At the same time, the breast tumor does not have a dense shell, it can be dealt with without surgery, it resolves under the influence of the drug. In older women, a tumor occurs in a mature form, with a capsule.

Before the age of 30, the likelihood of hormonal surges is increased, estrogen levels reach a maximum. If a woman had a small fibroadenoma, then during pregnancy it can grow by 2-3 times, since at this time the hormonal background changes greatly in the body.

By the age of 40, a gradual decrease in the production of sex hormones begins until the onset of menopause and postmenopause, when the ovaries cease to function. Therefore, in women older than 40 years, fibroadenoma is rarely formed.

Note: Even if a tumor of this kind is found in a woman at the age of 40-45, then most likely it appeared earlier, but could not be noticed, since it did not grow.

Exist the following ways treatment:

conservative (suppression of tumor growth);
surgical (removal of only a fibroadenoma or a separate area of \u200b\u200bthe mammary gland along with it);
minimally invasive destruction of the tumor (without damage to breast tissue).

In addition, it is possible to slow down the development of fibroadenoma by alternative medicine methods (with the help of herbal remedies, homeopathic and folk remedies).

Indications for surgical treatment of the gland

The most dangerous form of breast fibroadenoma is leaf-shaped, in which leaf-shaped cysts are formed in the tumor - voids filled with mucus. Suppuration of the contents of the cysts may occur. In such a fibroadenoma, cells of an atypical structure often appear, which degenerate into cancerous ones. Such a tumor is found most often in women over 50 years of age, during menopause. It increases very quickly. Therefore, leaf-shaped fibroadenomas must be removed surgically, without waiting for their growth.

Elimination is also carried out in the case when the fibroadenoma is larger than 1 cm in diameter, in addition, the woman plans to have a child. If there is a risk of degeneration into cancer or doubts about the benign nature of the tumor, then it must be removed along with neighboring tissues. Then their histological examination is carried out.

Video: Indications for removal of fibroadenoma

When is conservative therapy possible?

Medications render the most effective action in the treatment of immature tumors in young or elderly women. If it is precisely established that the tumor is benign, rather small (less than 8 mm in diameter), located in one breast, is the only one, then surgery can be dispensed with in the treatment of women of any age.

Hormonal preparations with a high content of progesterone are prescribed to reduce the level of estrogen in the blood. The tumor does not resolve, but its growth stops or slows down greatly. A woman should visit a doctor every 3 months to monitor the condition of the tumor with ultrasound and cancer tests.

To prevent the development of breast fibroadenoma, concomitant diseases that provoked a hormonal shift are treated. Diseases of the reproductive organs (uterine fibroids, for example), endocrine disorders can cause the appearance of neoplasms in the breast. Obesity provokes tumor growth (estrogens are produced in adipose tissue), therefore, during treatment, a woman should try to lose weight with a special diet.

If a tumor is found in a pregnant woman, then the operation is postponed until a later time if atypical cells are not found in it and there is no risk of degeneration into cancer. After childbirth, breastfeeding is recommended.

Modern methods of removing fibroadenoma without surgery

The advantage of modern minimally invasive and non-invasive methods is that they are much less painful, no general anesthesia to carry out the procedure. Elimination of a breast tumor takes less than 1 hour and is performed on an outpatient basis. Healing occurs quickly, moreover, there is no scarring on the surface of the gland and its shape does not change.

Such treatment without surgery is carried out only in case of full confidence that the tumor is non-cancerous. These methods completely remove tumors up to 3-3.5 cm in size.

These include:

mammotomy;
cryodestruction;
high frequency ablation;
laser ablation;
ultrasound ablation (echo therapy).

Mammotomy (ultrasound biopsy)

The procedure is carried out with the help of a mammothome, a robotic device in which all manipulations are controlled by an ultrasonic device. Suction of the tumor with a special probe is carried out through a 6 mm incision. In this case, local anesthesia with an injection of lidocaine is sufficient. If necessary, calcifications can be removed.

After the procedure, the incision is closed with very small tantalum staples, which makes it possible to observe changes at the removal site using an ultrasound device. If a relapse occurs and the tumor reappears, it can be immediately noticed.

For larger fibroadenoma, this method is used for diagnostic purposes. If it is found that the tumor degenerates into cancer, it is immediately removed surgically.

Cryodestruction

The method consists in the fact that argon is introduced through a puncture into the fibroadenoma. The tumor freezes, and after a few months completely resolves. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia. The effect can be achieved if the size of the tumor is not more than 3 cm.

Video: Treatment of fibroadenoma by cryodestruction

High frequency ablation

In a non-contact way, using high-frequency radio waves, the tumor is heated, after which it dies. Under ultrasound control, it is removed through an incision of several millimeters using a special wand.

Laser removal

A light guide is inserted through the puncture into the tumor, into which a directed laser beam is passed. Heating the tumor leads to cell death. The infection in the breast tissue is completely excluded. Treatment of fibroadenoma is fast, bloodless, almost painless.

echo therapy

This is a non-contact therapy method. No marks remain on the surface of the gland. An ultrasonic flow is directed to the tumor, which affects only the diseased tissue, while not interacting with healthy ones. There is a heating and destruction of the tumor. For anesthesia, the sedation method is used (the patient is injected with a sedative, immersing her in a state of drowsiness).

Application of non-traditional methods

Doctors warn about the dangers of any self-medication and the uncontrolled use of alternative medicine methods for the treatment of breast diseases. It is not allowed to use preparations containing phytoestrogens (red clover, soy), as well as the use of warm compresses (they can provoke tumor growth).

Tumor formations, unfortunately, are not uncommon in a woman's body.

The most vulnerable place is the mammary glands.

The development of civilization, the decrease in the number of children and the rejection of breastfeeding worsen the situation, and a disease such as mastopathy is becoming more common.

One of the forms of mastopathy is breast fibroadenoma.

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What is it and how to treat

Mastopathy, also called diffuse fibroadenomatosis of the mammary glands, is a benign tumor disease associated with a hormonal imbalance in a woman's body.

The fibroadenoma that forms in this case is a node. It has clear contours that can be felt and determined during an examination using ultrasound or mammography. The size of the node is very different: from 1-2 millimeters to several centimeters.

Do not leave fibroadenoma unattended, in order to avoid cancer.

The tumor is usually painless, elastic in consistency. The tissues of which it consists are the usual tissues of the mammary gland: connective and epithelial. As mentioned above, fibroadenoma is a benign tumor, but the presence of tumor formations is already a signal of trouble in the body.

This means the need for diagnosis and treatment. Although the degeneration of fibroadenoma into a cancerous tumor is very rare, theoretically such a possibility exists. Therefore, doctors strongly recommend not to leave this disease unattended in order to avoid serious consequences.

Diagnosis of fibroadenoma

The following methods are used for diagnostics:

Palpation allows you to grope for nodular formations, however, with small sizes, the nodes may not be palpable.

That is, well-being during palpation is not a reason to refuse further examinations.

Mammography shows the presence of a mass that differs from the surrounding tissues and has clear contours. Ultrasound will also show the presence of a node, but this method of examination allows you to distinguish fibrous formation or cystic.

For the final diagnosis, a fibroadenoma puncture is done. This is the process of taking the contents of a node to analyze its constituent cells. The results determine whether the tumor is benign or malignant.

In which clinics to undergo diagnostics? In order to identify the causes and signs of breast fibroadenoma in time and make a puncture, it may be quite enough to have a regular clinic and a gynecological department of a hospital, where they will take the material for a biopsy.

Today, specialized laboratories operate all over the world, including in Russia, where such analyzes are sent for processing, so there is no reason to doubt their reliability.

Attention!
If you feel pain in the chest, a feeling of fullness, swelling, heaviness in the mammary glands, found discharge from the nipples, the appearance of cracks in the nipples, retraction of the skin or nipple, hardening, induration, swelling in the mammary gland, swollen lymph nodes in the armpits - contact your doctor immediately .

Existing treatments

dynamic observation,
hormonal treatment,
Fibroadenoma surgery.

Dynamic observation is prescribed when the size of the node does not exceed 2 cm, it does not bother the patient and does not tend to grow. They also act if a lot of nodes are found that do not increase.

To find out whether the nodes are enlarged or not, you can regularly perform an ultrasound scan. This type of examination is now available to every woman, since there are ultrasound machines in any district clinic and almost all ordinary gynecologists are familiar with this diagnostic technique. For safety, you can duplicate mammography.

The main treatment for fibroadenoma is surgery.

In cases where fibroadenoma threatens to grow, causes concern, treatment is prescribed. Naturally, many women are immediately interested in the question - is it possible.

This type of tumor is hormone-dependent, but hormonal treatment, as a rule, leads only to some decrease in the tumor, resorption of the neoplasm in fibroadenoma is infrequent. Therefore, the main method of treatment is by operation.

Operation types:

Sectoral resection - excision of a section of the mammary gland,
Enucleation of a breast fibroadenoma is the removal of the tumor itself, which is also called husking.

Fibroadenoma of the mammary gland is not an obstacle during pregnancy and lactation. At this time, hormonal changes occur in the female body, which most often positively affects the tissues of the mammary glands.

An immature fibroadenoma can completely resolve, while a mature fibroadenoma can decrease in size.

What is fibroadenoma

It is customary to distinguish several types of this tumor:

Pericanalicular, in which connective tissue grows around the ducts,
Intracanalicular, in which tissues grow into the lumen of the ducts,
Mixed
Phylloidal.

Phylloid fibroadenoma of the mammary gland is the most dangerous. This tumor is also called leaf-shaped or leaf fibroadenoma because of its lobed structure. The danger of this type of fibroadenoma is that it is characterized by rapid growth, and in 10% of cases it has a high probability of degeneration into sarcoma, which is malignant tumor.

In this case, a biopsy is of particular value, because it reveals atypical cells in the neoplasm. It is these cells that subsequently lead to the degeneration of the tumor into a malignant one. Leaf fibroadenoma can reach gigantic sizes, spoil appearance. Its development is often rapid.

On a note!
A 100% indication for removal of fibroadenoma is a planned pregnancy. Hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy often lead to intensive tumor growth, and an increase in the chance of a possible rebirth.
It can block the milk ducts of the mammary glands that increase during childbearing. Therefore, there is a possibility that you will not be able to breastfeed the baby, and mastitis will develop inside the gland affected by the adenoma due to the fact that milk will not flow normally through the ducts.

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How does fibroadenoma manifest?

Most often, according to the symptoms, fibroadenoma is formed in the upper part of the mammary gland, so it can be easily detected during self-examination.

However, this is only possible with a certain amount of education.

If it is very small and does not manifest itself, then it is often diagnosed by chance, for example, during a planned medical examination.

Most often, fibroadenoma is detected using ultrasound, where it looks like dark spot with sharp edges. Clear edges are a sign of a benign formation, which, unlike a malignant one, does not penetrate into the surrounding tissues. However, fibroadenoma can be definitively distinguished from breast cancer only with the help of a biopsy.

Symptoms:

Round, painless mass in the mammary gland,
Feeling of tension and soreness at the end of the menstrual cycle.

Painful sensations may not appear at all or appear from time to time, that is, not every cycle. Very often, a woman does not notice any signs of fibroadenoma.

Why is formed

The main cause of fibroadenoma is hormonal imbalance. Often it is caused by various stressful situations, heavy physical and mental stress, lack of rest.

Diseases thyroid gland can lead to the development of fibroadenoma. In addition, a hereditary factor is not excluded.

Treatment in an Israeli clinic

Oncogynecology in Israel

Where to get treatment

The treatment of fibroadenoma is quite well developed throughout the world.

As a rule, in any clinic dealing with this issue, it follows the same scheme and brings almost the same results.

Is it worth it to go for the treatment of fibroadenoma "to distant lands", of course, the woman herself, who needs such treatment, decides

In this case, the diagnostic experience of doctors at the first stage and surgical experience, if an operation is needed, is important. You will feel more comfortable having a fibroadenoma removed by a specialist who regularly performs several of these operations daily than by a surgeon who only has to do them occasionally.

When contacting a doctor, check whether they can make a cosmetic suture, which will subsequently be invisible.

Thus, when choosing a clinic, one should give preference to specialized institutions, and, of course, be guided by the material component. IN Western Europe and the US will offer the same services and roughly the same quality as in Eastern Europe, Russia or Asian countries, but they will be much more expensive.

Although all diagnostic procedures (ultrasound, mammography, biopsy) are performed by standard methods, German, American or Swiss doctors will want to perform such examinations themselves even if the patient has them. Clinics in Israel can accept the available results if they are recent.

Fibroadenoma of the mammary gland (FAM) develops with nodular mastopathy. The cause of the appearance of neoplasms are various endocrine disorders and hormonal disruptions. Local growth in the gland causes severe discomfort and requires immediate examination and treatment.

The FAM of the mammary gland is formed in the upper chest area. The formation is benign and is diagnosed more often in women, however, in the stronger sex, the tumor can also be detected.

The main signs of a neoplasm in the breast:

the presence of a ball in the thickness of the gland
the appearance of ulcers on the areola of the nipple
pain on pressure on the gland

At the initial stages, the tumor is extremely difficult to detect - a diffuse tumor develops asymptomatically, and there is no pain. Only with an increase in the size of the neoplasm can one feel pain when probing the gland. Fibroadenoma of the breast is detected by x-ray, ultrasound of the mammary glands or at a preventive examination by a mammologist.

In some cases, a visible oval-shaped tubercle can be found in the upper region of the mammary gland. With the further development of the tumor, the patient's well-being worsens. Cracks appear on the areola, cloudy discharge from the nipple, the skin of the chest turns red.

The occurrence of the disease

A neoplasm usually develops during the female menopause, as well as in adolescents during the period of growing up. An imbalance of hormones is the main cause of the appearance of a pathological focus. If the pathological focus begins to form in a young girl, then the tumor usually reaches its maximum development by the age of 30.

Factors predisposing to the disease are:

chest injury
abortions
breastfeeding mistakes
topless tan
mastitis

The causes of the appearance of pathology are different. The tumor begins to form due to hormonal imbalance, when the level of estrogen significantly exceeds the level of other hormones. Any negative factor can provoke the appearance of fibroadenoma. In the mammary gland, active division of connective tissue cells begins, and organic structures grow. At the same time, the cells retain their morphology and are not malignant.

Fibroadenoma can grow rapidly, so regular medical supervision is required. In the presence of a soft consistency, the neoplasm is considered immature. A dense fibroadenoma is surrounded by a capsule; when fully mature, the tumor hurts and no longer grows.

Diagnostic methods

To establish an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to undergo an appointment with an oncologist. The doctor examines the mammary gland with the help of palpation and issues directions for examination.

The main diagnostic methods of fibroadenoma:

Ultrasound of the mammary glands
mammography
x-ray examination
biopsy

On x-ray, the tumor has a homogeneous structure and clear boundaries. Studies help determine the size of the neoplasm - sometimes the tumor can grow up to 3 cm. A distinctive feature of the tumor is the absence of metastasis, so in most cases the tumor is not dangerous. In some cases, multiple fibroadenomas may occur.

A biopsy allows you to exclude the malignancy of the process and reveal the morphology of fibroadenoma cells. For research, a small piece of the organic tissue of the tumor is taken and sent to the laboratory for analysis.

Types of education

Painless seals differ in their characteristics. Doctors distinguish several types of foci. There are several types of benign tumors.

This type of tumor is the most dangerous according to medical forecasts. The node is characterized by rapid growth, which is why the risk of converting a tumor into cancer increases several times. Fibroadenomas can be up to 5 cm in size.

The tumor has a layered structure and is often accompanied by gynecological disease. With a large size of a leaf-shaped tumor of the mammary gland, pain occurs, which increases with probing.

With thinning of the epidermis over the neoplasm, a phylloidal fibroadenoma is diagnosed, which can be mobile and quite large. The tumor has round shape and does not cause pain. Feature fibroadenomas of this type - separation of its structures from neighboring tissues and fuzzy contours.

Typically, the tumor is diagnosed in older women during menopause. Leaf-like fibroadenoma can occur due to stress, as well as hormonal failure. According to statistics, in 10 cases out of 100, a benign process ends in cancer. In such situations, removal of the fibroadenoma is required.

Intracanalicular

The tumor of this type does not have a clearly defined form and is localized in the structures of the lactiferous ducts. The node is characterized by slow development, during which pathological diffuse changes in the mammary gland.

When diagnosing a tumor, the allocation of individual lobes of the neoplasm is clearly visible. Their fuzzy boundaries are formed during the germination of connective tissues in the milk ducts.

The risks of degeneration of intracanalicular fibroadenoma into cancer are not high, but the possibility of a malignant process cannot be ruled out. A consultation with a mammologist will allow you to determine a further treatment plan - in most cases, this tumor is eliminated surgically.

Pericanalicular

The tumor is localized near the milk ducts and has a dense structure. Clear, clearly visible on the x-ray image, the boundaries of the neoplasm are diagnosed. Fibroadenoma usually develops in older women.

The causes of pericanalicular fibroadenoma are age-related changes in the body and hormonal changes. Education appears as a result of the growth of the structures of the mammary gland. Sometimes fibroadenoma hurts before menstruation, which is associated with the formation of calcifications in the fibrous-adipose tissue.

The threat of developing a malignant process is low, however, the nature of the tumor should be constantly monitored. Fibroadenoma responds well to medical treatment, so surgery for this type of neoplasm can often be avoided.

mixed

Involutive neoplasms are structures of connective tissue and parenchyma that have grown between the milk ducts. A mixed tumor has fuzzy boundaries, and on palpation, individual lobes of the neoplasm can be felt.

The medical prognosis of fibroadenoma is favorable with surgical removal of the neoplasm - the tumor is poorly amenable to drug therapy. The threat of developing cancer with this type of fibroadenoma is minimal.

The cyst, unlike fibroadenoma, has round smooth contours. The size of the neoplasm can reach 3-10 cm. The structure of the cyst is elastic and softer, the neoplasm is located in the upper quadrant of the mammary gland.

Usually cysts develop in women after 40-50 years, while fibroadenoma is also diagnosed in young girls. With a cyst, the defeat of two mammary glands is rare. In some cases, a particularly large cyst can deform the breast.

Fibroadenoma is characterized by different sizes of breast lobes and fibrous structure. With a tumor, a narrowing of the milk ducts is observed. In some cases, the connective tissue of the mammary gland can grow in a circle, in others it can grow into the ducts.

Treatment

Is it necessary to treat the neoplasm that has appeared if it does not cause concern? Doctors are inclined to a single answer - it is necessary to eliminate the neoplasm. Methods of treatment of fibroadenoma are different and depend on the manifestation of symptoms, test results, features of the diagnosis.

Non-operable treatment of fibroadenoma

To remove fibroadenomas of the mammary glands or not, only the doctor decides. Conservative therapy includes:

use of local funds
taking hormonal drugs
immunity correction

To eliminate the symptoms of the disease and resorption of neoplasms are prescribed topical application Gel Progestogel. The drug is indicated for various diseases breast and contains progesterone. This gel treats many pathological processes in the female breast, as well as benign tumors.

Mastodinon is prescribed in the form of drops or tablets. The natural preparation does not include hormones, and its action is aimed at stabilizing prolactin in the patient's body. Also, in case of pathology, the hormonal drug Dufoston is prescribed to correct the level of estrogen and progesterone.

Whether fibroadenoma can resolve is of interest to all patients undergoing conservative treatment. When diagnosing a poorly formed tumor, the effectiveness drug treatment increases. In other cases, if the therapy did not bring the expected positive result, and the size of the tumor is large enough, surgery is prescribed.

Surgical

There are several surgical methods removal of the neoplasm. An operation to remove a neoplasm is indicated for large tumor sizes, severe symptoms, and the risk of the process degenerating into cancer.

enucleation, exfoliation

The goal of enucleation is to completely eliminate the tumor without damaging adjacent tissues. The operation is performed only after receiving the results of the tests and lasts about 1 hour. In the presence of a cancerous structure, exfoliation of the tumor is contraindicated.

Sector resection

During surgery, the surgeon removes not only the tumor itself, but also neighboring tissues surrounding the tumor. Sectoral resection allows you to save the organ and is carried out in order to exclude the recurrence of pathology. During the operation, the local focus is completely eliminated.

Total resection

Indications for total resection are:

the presence of a risk of oncological process
rapid increase in the pathological focus
phylloid tumor

You should not wait for the tumor to resolve, the timely intervention of surgeons will allow you to quickly get rid of health problems and embark on the path of recovery. The operation is not sparing and minimally invasive; up to 75% of the organ can be removed during its process. Preparation for the operation is standard, and general anesthesia is used during the intervention.

laser excision

The newest method is safe and allows you to save the body during excision of the pathological focus. The minimally invasive method is based on the action of a precisely induced laser beam. Surgery is performed under local anesthesia and promotes the restoration of connective tissue.

vacuum

Resection of the neoplasm using the vacuum method is a new method in the history of treatment that does not leave sutures. The method is a safe alternative to secretory resection, performed under local anesthesia. The intervention does not involve traumatic incisions, and the removal of the neoplasm is carried out under the control of an ultrasound machine.

In the postoperative period, it is important to follow a diet and medical recommendations. After removal of fibroadenoma, the breast is not deformed - the bust does not undergo visible changes and does not become ugly. The mammary gland fully retains its functions. A woman can become pregnant, but the question of the possibility of breastfeeding is decided by the doctor individually.

Do scars remain after surgery?

Surgical intervention ends with the imposition of a cosmetic intradermal suture. The incision on the skin is performed cosmetically, therefore, after its removal and complete healing, the traces of surgical intervention are practically not visible. There are also sparing methods for removing the tumor, in which there are no sutures left at all - cryodestruction, high-frequency ablation, laser exposure.

Folk remedies

Traditional medicine offers a lot effective recipes in the treatment of benign tumors. From fibroadenoma, it is useful to take a decoction of pomegranate bark. To prepare it, 1 part of pomegranate peels is mixed with sprigs of viburnum and oak. The mixture is poured with boiling water and insisted in a water bath under the lid for 10 minutes. Then the infusion is filtered and taken 5 tablespoons 3 times a day on an empty stomach.

Another recipe has been known for a long time. It is useful to drink with fibroadenoma a decoction from the collection, in which St. John's wort, pine buds, rose hips, and wormwood are present. The herbal mixture is brewed in a thermos or a sealed container, then placed in a water bath and 200 ml of alcohol or cognac are added. The broth is cooled and insisted. Alcohol tincture take with honey and aloe juice 30 minutes before meals, 1 teaspoon. The course of admission is 6 days.

Important questions

Every patient is concerned about issues that relate to the health of the breast when diagnosing a benign tumor. At the doctor's appointment, a woman should ask all the questions of interest to the attending physician. A qualified specialist will give detailed answers.

Can fibroadenoma turn into cancer?

Many women are concerned about whether a fibroadenoma can develop into cancer. Leaf-shaped and pericanalicular tumors are most often affected by this phenomenon. However, the percentage of their transformation into a malignant process is not high. Fibroadenoma degenerates into cancer only in 20% of cases, the seal remains benign and rarely hurts.

A benign neoplasm requires constant monitoring and biopsy. Histological analysis of the biomaterial will determine the nature and morphology of the neoplasm cells.

Fibroadenoma and pregnancy

In many cases, the development of a benign tumor in the breast is diagnosed during childbearing. Fibroadenoma during pregnancy does not adversely affect the course of gestation, but can create discomfort and problems during breastfeeding.

A pregnant woman should be constantly under medical supervision. Doctors decide the need for surgery individually.

IVF and fibroadenoma

Is fibroadenoma of the gland compatible with IVF, the medical specialist will answer. A benign neoplasm is considered safe and is not capable of threatening the development of the embryo and the birth of a child. Doctors' tactics depend on the characteristics of each case - doctors recommend that some women perform an operation before IVF, others refrain from surgery if there are contraindications.

Prevention

Among the preventive measures, a special role is played by healthy eating and psychosomatics. A woman should avoid unrest and stress, regularly monitor the course of menstruation and periodically take ultrasound procedure mammary glands. Annual preventive examinations at the gynecologist and mammologist allow timely detection of fibroadenoma.

Breast tumors are quite common in women of all age groups, and the largest number are benign, including fibroadenoma.

Mammologists encounter nodular formations in the mammary gland almost daily. Both young girls and women, and ladies of advanced years come to the reception. A modern woman leading an active lifestyle often has no time for going to the doctor, therefore, having discovered a tumor in herself, she can postpone a visit to a specialist for an indefinitely long time. It is good if the tumor turns out to be benign, but during the waiting time it can reach a large size or cells with signs of malignancy will appear in it, which means that the treatment will be more difficult.

A doctor's examination and ultrasound in most cases of asymptomatic tumors show the presence of breast fibroadenoma. This neoplasm often affects girls and young women aged 20-30, but also at a more mature age, including menopause, this tumor can also be diagnosed.

Fibroadenoma is a benign neoplasm of glandular origin, and the prefix "fibro-" indicates a significant amount of connective tissue in its composition, which gives the tumor a dense texture. Fibroadenoma is considered a variant of the nodular form of mastopathy.

Often the tumor is confused with fibroadenomatosis, but these processes are different. Fibroadenoma is a localized neoplasm, while fibroadenomatosis is characterized by the growth of glandular and connective tissue throughout the gland. In addition, fibroadenomatosis responds well to conservative therapy, which is practically not observed in benign tumors.

Fibroadenoma, as a rule, does not show any symptoms, and the only complaint of the patient may be the presence of a nodular formation in the breast. Most often, the tumor is detected by self-palpation of the breast or during a preventive examination.

Types and causes of fibroadenoma

Most women have one tumor node in one of the mammary glands, although bilateral lesions also occur. This neoplasm has a dense texture, is well displaced by palpation, painless, with clear contours, and is not associated with surrounding tissues. The skin in the growth zone of neoplasia does not change. The size of the tumor ranges from a few millimeters to 7-9 cm, but more often 2-3 cm is enough for a woman to go to the doctor.

Large tumors due to timely detection today are diagnosed quite rarely. Most women experience some swelling of the mammary glands before menstruation, which can give the false impression of tumor growth that is not actually happening.

The basis of fibroadenoma is glandular tissue with interlayers of connective tissue, giving it a dense texture. In younger women, the swelling may be milder and more prone to rapid growth, while in women of the older generation it increases very slowly or practically does not grow, dense, with a well-defined capsule (mature fibroadenoma).

Depending on the nature of growth and characteristics histological structure taken to highlight:

Of particular clinical importance is foliate fibroadenoma, which has a layered structure and tends to increase rapidly. Such a tumor is often diagnosed in young patients and in 10% of cases it degenerates into. Unlike other variants of the tumor, leaf-shaped adenoma can be suspected by its size, which neoplasia reaches in a short period of time.

The duration of the disease and the size of the tumor do not have a clear relationship with the risk of malignancy. So, cancer can develop from neoplasia of 1-2 cm, and large nodes in older women can remain completely benign for a long time. It is believed that the detection of atypical cells or atypical epithelial hyperplasia increases the likelihood of breast cancer by 8-9 times. The moment when a fibroadenoma becomes a malignant tumor is impossible to predict, so experts most often insist on radical treatment diseases.

The causes of fibroadenoma, like any other tumor, continue to be discussed, however it is well known that hormone imbalance is of decisive importance among all other risk factors. For this reason, the tumor is more often diagnosed during periods of the greatest hormonal fluctuations: in adolescence, during pregnancy and lactation, in premenopause, especially against the background of ongoing hormone replacement therapy.

In addition to hormonal disorders, the occurrence of fibroadenoma is highly promoted by:

Uncontrolled, long-term use of oral contraceptives and drugs containing a high dose of estrogen (emergency contraception) not agreed with a doctor;
Frequent abortions;
Short lactation period, refusal or impossibility of breastfeeding;
The presence of concomitant pathology - obesity, diseases of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, etc.

Tumor growth occurs under the influence of female sex hormones, a surge in the level of which is possible in adolescence when just installed menstrual cycle, in premenopause, when against the background of a gradual decrease in the hormone-producing function of the ovaries, periodic releases of large amounts of estrogen occur. If a woman decides to have an abortion, then she should know that a sharp drop in the level of sex hormones due to termination of pregnancy can cause her to develop both mastopathy and fibroadenomas.

In the presence of other endocrine pathology and dysfunction of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, pituitary gland, ovaries, the overall hormonal balance changes, and in half of these patients, breast tumors may be detected.

Since fibroadenoma is hormone-dependent, the fact of its growth during pregnancy is not surprising, which must be kept in mind for patients planning to have children. The tumor can reach such a size that it will compress the milk ducts and disrupt lactation, and in the worst case, inflammation will also join this.

The role of the hereditary factor in the development of fibroadenoma is rejected. If a woman is healthy, has a regular menstrual cycle, then the tumor almost certainly does not threaten her, even if her mother or grandmother had such formations. On the other hand, if the patient has an unfavorable family history of breast cancer, the fibroadenoma is more likely to become malignant, so she needs to be treated. increased attention mammologist.

Video: lecture on fibroadenoma - doctor's opinion

Manifestations of fibroadenoma and ways to detect it

Symptoms of breast fibroadenoma are reduced to the presence of a dense nodular formation, visible to the naked eye at a fairly large size and palpable in the tissue of the gland. The tumor is well displaced, painless, not associated with the skin. As a rule, the only concern of a woman is the very presence of a tight knot that does not hurt. The most common localization of fibroadenoma is the upper outer quadrant of the gland.

When the patient notes changes skin in the projection of tumor growth, retraction of the nipple or discharge from it, enlargement of the axillary lymph nodes, the doctor will always suspect breast cancer, since external changes and damage to surrounding tissues with fibroadenoma does not occur.

Most often, the presence of a tumor is determined by the patient herself by palpation. Self-examination is very important in the diagnosis of breast pathology, it is available to every woman and must be carried out at least once a month, preferably after menstruation, when the mammary gland is not swollen under the influence of hormones.

To make a diagnosis in the presence of any nodular formation, you should definitely go to a specialist. A mammologist will examine and palpate the gland, and often the diagnosis is made already at this stage of the examination. In order to confirm it, the woman is offered to pass ultrasound procedure, which gives information about the location, size, structure of the neoplasm. Ultrasound can distinguish fibroadenoma from the nodular form of mastopathy, cysts, which is very important when determining treatment tactics in the future. If necessary, ultrasound is supplemented mammography which is preferred in older patients.

ways to diagnose fibroadenomas

When a nodular formation is found in the mammary gland a mandatory step in the diagnosis needle biopsy, allowing to exclude or confirm the malignant nature of neoplasia. It should be noted that this study gives only an approximate result, since malignant cells may simply not get into the material under study. The use of trephine biopsy gives more chances of correct diagnosis. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, so you should not be afraid of it. The final diagnosis is based on histological examination tumor tissue obtained after its removal.

Fibroadenoma treatment

Treatment of fibroadenoma is usually surgical. Since fibroadenoma is a tumor, albeit benign, conservative therapy is unlikely to give at least some effect. In some cases, when the size of the neoplasm does not exceed 5-8 mm, conservative therapy can be prescribed for 4-6 months under ultrasound control. A positive result is observed extremely rarely and often in cases where the very fact of the presence of a tumor is doubtful, that is, it is highly likely that the patient did not have a tumor, but fibroadenomatosis, which responds well to conservative treatment. After this time, it is worth considering the option surgical treatment until time is lost and the tumor has reached a large size.

Young patients taking hormonal preparations, should be especially careful, because hormones can accelerate the growth of the tumor, which means that in such cases it is better to remove it. Women of menopausal age can be offered observation with a small size of the neoplasm.

To do the operation or not - the doctor decides depending on the clinical situation. Offering a wait-and-see approach to a patient with a small tumor, a mammologist can doom her to constant anxiety and worries: what if the fibroadenoma turns into cancer during the observation period? This is possible, and no one can accurately determine the moment when the tumor cells become malignant, because any, even a benign neoplasm, is a kind of time bomb. Based on these positions, most specialists are inclined to the need for surgical treatment as the only correct one.

If the diagnosis of fibroadenoma was established by the result of a puncture biopsy and there is no doubt, and the size of the tumor is calculated in centimeters, then there is only one way out - to remove the tumor.

Indications for removal of fibroadenoma may be:

Rapid tumor growth;
Suspicion of a possible malignant nature of growth;
Lack of effect from conservative treatment;
Leaf-like variant of fibroadenoma;
Size over 2 cm or the presence of a cosmetic defect with a smaller diameter of the tumor;
The desire of the patient to remove the neoplasm;
Planned pregnancy.

When choosing a method of surgical intervention, a mammologist evaluates not only the characteristics of the tumor, but also the age and general condition of the woman, her plans for childbearing. The desire to become pregnant and the presence of fibroadenoma do not contradict each other. Moreover, some experts do not see the need to remove the tumor, especially if it is small, but it should be borne in mind that a change in the hormonal background of a pregnant woman can contribute to the rapid growth of the neoplasm, which, during subsequent lactation, can compress the milk ducts and impede the outflow of milk. Hence the risk of secondary inflammatory processes, milk stagnation and significant problems with feeding the baby.

Pregnant women are advised to remove fibroadenoma at a gestational age of more than 3 months. If the tumor is not removed, then it is worth returning to the issue of its surgical treatment as soon as the woman stops breastfeeding the child, provided that the course of the disease is stable.

Fibroadenoma does not occur on its own, it can be caused by various endocrine disorders, ovarian pathology, hereditary predisposition. Removing one node and not eliminating the root cause of the tumor, you should not expect a permanent cure, because a new tumor may grow. In this regard, patients with an established diagnosis of fibroadenoma should be treated by other related specialists - a gynecologist, an endocrinologist. Only after eliminating all possible risk factors for the tumor can one expect a stable positive result after tumor removal.

So, the issue of treatment is resolved: an operation is needed. When choosing a venue, it is worth focusing not on the price of the service and the appearance of the ward of the medical center, but on the qualifications and experience of the surgeon, on whose hand the final result will depend. Surgical treatment fibroadenomas are best done in medical centers or departments that specialize specifically in breast pathology. Most patients are concerned not only with the complete removal of the tumor, but also with the subsequent good cosmetic effect of the treatment, which is achieved by using organ-preserving techniques and applying cosmetic sutures. In some cases, the help of plastic surgeons is needed.

To date, with breast fibroadenoma, two types of operations can be performed:

Sectoral resection;
node enucleation.

Sectoral resection performed in cases where the doctor cannot completely exclude the possibility of malignant transformation of tumor cells. During this operation, the neoplasm is removed with the surrounding tissue of the gland itself within 1-3 cm around the neoplasia. Since a significant amount of tissue is removed, there will most likely be a cosmetic defect after the operation. Plastic surgeons can come to the rescue, and the patient may be offered implantation or replacement of the missing gland volume with her own tissues, depending on the specific clinical situation. Sectoral resection is performed under general anesthesia.

sectoral resection: surgery for breast fibroadenoma

enucleation involves the removal of only the fibroadenoma node (husking). This approach is justified in the case of a proven absolute benign tumor. The operation can be performed under local anesthesia. The ideal access is considered to be an incision along the border of the areola of the peripapillary field, then the suture will be practically invisible, and only in cases where it is impossible to extract the tumor through such an incision, the doctor resorts to removing another zone of the gland through the skin, above the location of the formation.

The duration of tumor removal, as a rule, does not exceed an hour, and the patient can be sent home by the evening. The postoperative period is easy and painless, the sutures are removed on the 7-10th day after the operation, but it is also possible on the fifth day after the intervention.

A good cosmetic result is achieved by applying intradermal sutures, which, after the final healing, become invisible to others. If the incision was made in the skin over the tumor and was sufficient to remove a large node, then a small scar may remain after healing. To avoid this phenomenon, it is better to carry out the operation when the neoplasm has not reached a large size.

There are no relapses after fibroadenoma treatment, but the tumor may grow in another area of the breast, which is associated with the presence of unresolved causes of neoplasm growth. In this regard, the patient should be under the close attention of a mammologist, gynecologist, endocrinologist.

With a significant amount of removed gland tissue, the question arises of reconstructive treatment to replace the resulting defect. The patient may be offered:

The introduction of hyaluronic acid with a small defect;
Replacing the missing volume with your own adipose tissue, which is pre-treated in a special way. Perhaps this method will soon be supplemented by the introduction of stem cells, and relevant studies are already underway;
Placement of breast implants.

Implantation is possible not only for large defects of the mammary gland, but also, if a woman wishes, to remove fibroadenoma with simultaneous correction of the shape and size of the breast. In addition, it has been observed that women with implants live longer and are less at risk of cancer. This is by no means due to the beneficial effect of the installed prostheses, but to the fact that such patients more carefully control the condition of their breasts and appear much more often at the appointment with a mammologist.

Pregnant women and those who are just planning to have offspring are concerned about the issue of subsequent lactation. After the tumor removal surgery, breastfeeding is possible, but with large neoplasia, there may be certain difficulties associated with the removal of a significant amount of the parenchyma of the gland. In this matter, as in the case of the need for reconstructive operations, early contact with a specialist and timely removal of the neoplasm can help.

Treatment without surgery, as well as with the help of folk remedies, is still popular. The 21st century is coming, but prejudices about official medicine and the need for surgical care are not decreasing. For this reason, the incidence and mortality from breast cancer is almost the first in the world, and women reach the doctor with advanced stages of the disease. I would like to remind you once again: no dietary supplements, absorbable agents and traditional healing are able to get rid of a tumor that can only be cured by surgery. Treatment without surgery will not give a positive result, but will only take time and the possibility of sparing interventions.

Timely access to a competent and experienced specialist allows avoiding traumatic operations, the need for plastic surgery and the risk of malignant transformation of the tumor. After treatment, observation by a mammologist is mandatory and serves as a guarantee of preservation women's health, prevention of re-growth of benign tumors and breast cancer.

Video: breast fibroadenoma, indications for surgery

The author selectively answers adequate questions from readers within his competence and only within the limits of the OncoLib.ru resource. Face-to-face consultations and assistance in organizing treatment are not currently provided.