A fibroadenoma is a non-cancerous (benign) breast lump made up of fibrous and glandular breast tissue. The exact cause is not known, but it is thought to be related to hormone changes.
Fibroadenomas are the most common solid breast lumps in young women. They can develop any time after puberty but are uncommon after menopause. Some fibroadenomas grow overtime, while others stay the same or get smaller. Fibroadenomas often become larger during pregnancy because of hormonal changes.
Most fibroadenomas do not increase your risk of breast cancer.
It's common to have only 1 fibroadenoma, but some people have more than 1, and they can happen in 1 or both breasts.
Diagnosis
Your healthcare provider will ask about your breast health and family history and examine your breasts.
During a physical exam, fibroadenomas usually feel smooth and round and they move freely. They feel firm and rubbery (like a pea or a grape) and are usually painless.
Since many breast lumps feel similar during a breast exam, your healthcare provider may recommend breast imaging, such as an ultrasound or mammogram, to learn more about the lump. In some cases, a biopsy (removing a small tissue sample) may be recommended.
Follow-up
If you have a fibroadenoma, your healthcare provider will look at the following factors to plan your follow-up:
- your age
- health history and family history
- how long you've had the lump
- the mammogram or ultrasound findings
- any symptoms you may have from the lump
- any recent change in the size or shape of the lump
- location of the lump
Monitoring is the most common follow-up for fibroadenomas. This means you'll go back to your healthcare provider for a breast exam and repeat breast imaging in 6 months.
Usually, the radiologist (imaging specialist) will recommend breast imaging every 6 months for 1 to 2 years to check that the lump is stable (not growing or changing).
