Breast Fibroma
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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[Causes of the breast fibroma
Despite medical progress, all the same the causes of fibroids of the breast are not fully confirmed. There are only some assumptions about the factors that have an impact on the formation of the neoplasm.
Thus, the onset of fibroids is mainly influenced by the hormonal background of the woman. There are a lot of reasons for fluctuating the level of hormones. This can be permanent stressful situations that contribute to a change in the hormonal state. In addition, it is worth highlighting the organ pathology of the female reproductive system, when the level of estrogen in the blood rises.
The emergence of fibroma is also facilitated by physiological fluctuations of hormones, such as adolescent and menopausal periods, pregnancy and lactation. With prolonged intake of hormonal contraceptives, there is a disturbance in the ratio of hormones.
It is worth noting that the absence of pregnancy before the age of 30 and frequent abortions also increase the likelihood of developing fibroids. There are suggestions that injuries to the thoracic region can provoke a tightening in the connective tissue with the further formation of fibroids.
In addition, the risk of developing a neoplasm increases significantly if you are unduly exposed to direct sunlight or when you abuse the solarium.
When probing with a mammary gland of a dense nodule, a woman should see a doctor for a biopsy and confirm the benign nature of the origin of the lesion.
Symptoms of the breast fibroma
At the initial stage of development, fibroma manifests itself in the form of a small roundness, which, when palpated, does not cause a pain syndrome. Before menstruation for a few days in the place of formation of fibroids may worry the feeling of raspiraniya.
With the growth of the neoplasm, the detection of the pathological focus is not difficult even for the woman herself, since the compaction acquires clear boundaries and is palpated without much difficulty. Once the fibroids have been detected, it is necessary to exclude the malignant nature of the origin of the formation.
To this end, the doctor-mammologist uses special instrumental methods to detect pathology, after receiving a response, which establishes a diagnosis and determines the further tactics of the patient's management.
In most cases, even with the confirmation of a benign origin of fibroids, nevertheless it is recommended to remove it surgically to avoid malignancy of the tumor under the influence of various adverse factors.
Clinical symptoms of breast fibroma depend on the stage of development of the neoplasm and its origin. Most common is a common form of fibroma, the morphological structure of which can be peri-, intracanical or mixed.
The listed types of fibroids are not capable of transformation into a malignant process. Less common is the phyloid form (leaf-shaped). It is this species that is characterized by intensive growth and is transformed into a malignant neoplasm.
Symptoms of breast fibroma are the presence of a rounded nodule of a dense consistency, not connected to surrounding tissues, due to which it is easily mobile. The surface of the neoplasm is smooth and does not cause pain syndrome during palpation.
There are no general clinical symptoms, only with the appearance of morphological signs of the malignant process, a possible increase in soreness, a deformation of the skin over the pathological focus, a discharge from the nipple and an increase in local lymph nodes. In this case, it is necessary to suspect malignant degeneration with the development of cancer.
These manifestations are considered a complication of fibroids, therefore, at the first palpation detection of the pathological focus by a woman or when detected by ultrasound or mammography, without waiting for complications, further examination of the nodule should be conducted to confirm the benign nature of the occurrence.
The earlier a pathological focus is identified, the sooner the treatment will start, which increases the chances of recovery.
Where does it hurt?
Diagnostics of the breast fibroma
The primary detection of fibroids is the independent detection of a nodule by a woman using the palpation of the breast. In addition, the method of preventive examinations using mammography can reveal a pathological focus in the early stages.
In the picture (mammogram), fibroids are more dense in relation to surrounding tissues, with clear contours and rounded outlines. In some cases, with a long-term nodule, more clear areas of fibroids may be detected on the radiographic image due to the fact that the focus has calcification areas (deposition of calcium salts).
When contacting a mammologist, the following diagnostic methods are used: palpation by a breast doctor during an objective examination, the use of ultrasound to visualize the fibroid and to detect a clear location.
In addition, the diagnosis of breast fibroma in the form of ultrasound can reveal the morphological structure of a benign nodule, its shape and size. With the help of ultrasound, a biopsy of the neoplasm is performed to determine the nature of the development of fibroids.
The obtained biopsy passes a cytological study, due to which malignant cells are detected (if any), which indicates the degeneration of fibroids into cancer.
The final confirmation or refutation of the malignant process is carried out with the help of histological examination after surgical removal of the pathological nodule.
What do need to examine?
What tests are needed?
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Treatment of the breast fibroma
After conducting a thorough examination of the woman and establishing the nature of the pathological nodule, it is necessary to determine the treatment of breast fibroma.
To select the method of treatment of the disease, it is necessary to take into account the stage of benign process, the presence of concomitant pathology and the age of the woman.
In the event that the size of the fibroid does not exceed 5-8 millimeters, then a conservative method of therapy is possible. In this case, with the help of hormonal drugs you need to restore the normal ratio of hormones. In addition, the cause of hormonal imbalance should be eliminated, otherwise the risk of developing a repeated fibroid is very high.
The conservative treatment is carried out under the control of ultrasound, but it is not always possible to cope with the neoplasm without surgical intervention.
If there is no desired result from conservative treatment, an operative method should be used. It allows you to remove fibroids, leaving no pathological cells, which in the future can cause a relapse.
Operation with mammary gland fibroids
When planning surgical intervention, it is necessary to take into account the size of the neoplasm, its adhesion to surrounding tissues, the presence of a number of located blood vessels, as well as the patient's age and concomitant diseases.
Operation with fibroma of the breast has absolute indications for its conduct. These include the intensive growth of a benign nodule, when the pathological focus increases several times in 3 months. Also, if the fibroid gives the woman uncomfortable sensations, one should consider the option of surgical removal.
Operation with fibroma of the breast is necessary in the presence of a neoplasm, the size of which exceeds 2 cm, or with this arrangement of the nodule creating a cosmetic defect. Mandatory removal is subject to fibroid leaf structure.
Surgical intervention should be performed in the presence of fibroma in the period of pregnancy planning. As the pathological neoplasm increases, the probability of overlapping the dairy ducts near the nodule located nearby increases. Thus, it will not be possible to feed the baby with breast milk.
On the other hand, congestion in the mammary gland can trigger a degeneration into a malignant process. In addition, during pregnancy, hormonal changes are observed in the body of the woman, which can also contribute to the appearance of malignant cells in the fibroids.
Removal of breast fibroma
The scope of surgical intervention is determined after an instrumental examination using biopsy, which reveals a benign or malignant neoplasm.
In the case of benign fibroid origin, two options for surgical intervention can be considered. Removal of the fibroma of the breast can be carried out in the form of a sectoral resection, when the part of the mammary gland where the fibroid is located is removed.
This method is most suitable, since the neoplasm is removed from the capsule, cleansing the gland from pathological cells. As a result of such surgery, the probability of repeated development of fibroids is very small.
There is another way to remove the nodule - this is enucleation, when only the tumor is removed without the surrounding tissues. This method of treatment can leave the changed cells in the hearth, which provokes the development of a recurrence of fibroids.
Removal of the fibroma of the breast does not take much time and does not require a long stay in the hospital. The postoperative period is fairly well tolerated, and the woman soon returns home.
However, in the presence of malignant neoplasm, the volume of surgical intervention is significantly increased. In this operation, the mammary gland is removed, where the fibroma is located, as well as the adjacent lymph nodes.
More information of the treatment
Prevention
Specific prophylaxis of breast fibroma has not yet been developed in view of the fact that the main causes of neoplasm are fully elucidated.
However, it is worth highlighting only some factors and measures that reduce the likelihood of fibroids. So, the main preventive method is regular examination of women.
At a young age, girls can perform ultrasound of the mammary glands in order to reveal a pathological focus in the early stages. With age, the use of X-ray diagnostic methods - mammography - is permitted. With its help a neoplasm is revealed, its dimensions are specified, adhesion to surrounding tissues, and also structure.
Detection of fibroma at the initial stage of formation allows to avoid development of complications and to start treatment in time.
Prevention of breast fibroma also consists in controlling a woman for the activity of chronic diseases of internal organs, which affect the hormonal state. This pathology of the endocrine system (diabetes, thyrotoxicosis) and the organs of the reproductive system.
In addition, it is recommended to have regular sexual activity, strive to have children under the age of 30, and also to give up abortions, severe stress and lead a healthy lifestyle.
Forecast
Based on the fact that in most cases the pathology has a benign course, the prognosis of the breast fibroma is favorable. However, this does not exclude the possibility of a neoplasm in another mammary gland in the presence of a cause that caused the formation of the first pathological focus.
As it was already considered, that with the prolonged existence of fibroids, the deposition of calcium salts in its tissues is possible. In addition, as a result of the influence of the negative factor, the probability of malignant degeneration of the fibroid can not be ruled out.
When detecting a neoplasm, it is necessary to regularly monitor its size, shape and structure. If any changes are found, further instrumental examination with a biopsy should be performed to identify the malignant cells.
Fibroma of the breast does not pose a direct risk to the life of a woman due to her benign structure. Despite this, without regular monitoring the neoplasm can undergo transformation, which requires more radical treatment than fibroids. In order to avoid the development of complications, it is necessary to regularly undergo examination and follow the pathological focus.