Fibroadenomas are usually single lumps, but about 10 - 15% of women have several lumps that may affect both breasts.
Lumps may be:
- Easily moveable under the skin
- Firm
- Painless
- Rubbery
They have smooth, well-defined borders. They may grow in size, especially during pregnancy. Fibroadenomas often get smaller after menopause (if a woman is not taking hormone replacement therapy).
Signs and tests
After a physical examination, one or both of the following tests are usually done:
Breast ultrasound Mammogram
A core needle biopsy must be performed to get a definite diagnosis. Women in their teens or early 20s may not need a biopsy if the lump goes away on its own or if the lump does not change over a long period of time.
For more information on the different types of breast biopsies, see:
Breast biopsy - open Breast biopsy - sterotaxic -
Breast biopsy - ultrasound (core needle)
Previous Section
Review Date: 01/24/2011
Reviewed By: Debra G. Wechter, MD, FACS, General Surgery practice specializing
in breast cancer, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle,
Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
