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Fibroadenomas - non-cancerous breast lumps
Prevalence
About fibroadenomas
Detection, diagnosis and treatment
Options for managing fibroadenoma
Patient satisfaction data
Fibroadenomas - non-cancerous breast lumps
Not all breast lumps are malignant (or cancerous). There is such a thing as benign (or non-cancerous) breast disease. The most prevalent, non-cancerous breast lumps are known as fibroadenomas.
Prevalence
Fibroadenomas occur in about 10 percent of all women and account for about half of the 1.6 million breast biopsies doctors perform each year in the US. They are common among girls in their teens and women in their twenties and thirties, but may occur at any age. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), fibroadenomas occur twice as often in African-American women.
About fibroadenomas
Fibroadenomas are usually solid, round, non-cancerous tumors that feel like a marble within the breast. They can range in size from microscopic to several inches across and you or your doctor can feel them during a breast exam. Fibroadenomas may require removal if they cause pain, continue to grow or change in shape. Many doctors recommend removing them for biopsy to ensure they are not cancerous. Sometimes, new fibroadenomas may develop even after doctors remove old ones.
Detection, diagnosis and treatment
Most women detect fibroadenomas during a self-breast examination or your doctor may detect them during a clinical breast examination. Removing the lump may be necessary. Until now, most fibroadenomas have been removed using an open surgical biopsy method. Open surgical removal of fibroadenomas may involve the removal of nearby breast tissue which can cause scarring and breast disfigurement. And this method does require stitches, and an incision 1- to 2-inches long.
Now, doctors can use the Mammotome® Biopsy System in the management of fibroadenomas with minimal scarring, no stitches and immediate recovery. The incision using this method is the size of a match head, and the procedure may be performed in the doctor's office.
Learn more about the procedure using the Mammotome Biopsy System
Options for managing fibroadenoma
Review the chart below to see the differences between managing benign breast disease (fibroadenomas) using the Mammotome Biopsy System vs. Open Surgery
| Mammotome Biopsy System |
|
Open Surgery |
| Probe gently vacuums, cuts and removes breast tissue through a tiny incision |
DESCRIPTION |
Surgeon creates a larger incision to remove breast tissue. Wire occasionally used to help locate breast lump |
| 1/4 inch |
INCISION SIZE |
1 - 2 inches |
| Minimal |
SCARRING |
External scar; internal scar may interfere with future mammogram readings |
| Doctor's office/outpatient setting |
SETTING |
Operating room/outpatient setting |
| 30 min - 1 hour |
DURATION |
1 - 2 hours |
| Immediate |
RECOVERY TIME |
A few hours |
| Adhesive bandage |
INCISION CLOSURE |
Stitches and bandage |
Patient satisfaction data
Women with benign non-cancerous breast lumps can now receive care in a doctor’s office with a minimally invasive device such as the Mammotome Biopsy System, rather than having the lump removed by surgery in an operating room. A study on management of benign disease with the Mammotome Biopsy System reveals very high patient satisfaction.
In this study, 236 patients underwent a biopsy procedure using the Mammotome Biopsy System, 179 had a six month follow-up and 83 completed a satisfaction survey.* The study concluded:
* 99% of patients would inform other women about the procedure
* 96% of patients were satisfied with the incision appearance
* 94% of patients would be willing to have a similar procedure in the future
* 94% of patients had no palpable evidence of the initial lesion at their 6-month follow-up
*Data on file.